By Sonqoba Kunene

SEBOKENG. - Hundreds of people could only cover their noses when a well-known sangoma unearthed a mysterious muthi package from one of the houses in Boitumelo on Thursday morning.

The man, who together with the family that called for his help, initially refused this journalist access to the yard in which the muthi was being sought. "Please do not take pictures," says the popular sangoma who also refused Vaal Weekly his real name, but is known as Nkosana Mothisa.

An hour went by and when the people of Boitumelo increased in attendance, the family agreed to have pictures taken but only those of the muthi and not the sangoma. The residents stood and watched in awe as the sangoma dug out a monkey’s skull wrapped in plastic and filled with several items including a dead snake, razor blade, an old pot scrapper, human hair, a rat and chicken feet. There were sighs of disbelief when the sangoma unwrapped the plastic to show what was inside as no one expected to see human faeces and a green ten rand note. Petrol was poured on the items and they were set on fire after the sangoma had sprinkled cayenne pepper over it. "This is unbelievable! We must find the person who put these things here," says one member of the audience. There is talk of a second episode of this drama, which will see the sangoma identify a witch in Boitumelo.

By Mduduzi Mathebula

SEBOKENG. - It was tears and wailing for the Mabaso-family when the lifeless body of Sicelo Mabaso was discovered next to his unconscious wife on Monday morning in the two-roomed backyard shack that the family has been renting.

Mabaso’s bizarre death left neighbours in shock and with many unanswered questions as it is not clear what killed the man. Many suspect that gas from a heater or an electric heater could have been the culprit that led to this unwelcome end. Another strange discovery was that Sicelo’s car was still idling in the garage and he was dressed in his overalls, which suggests that he was on the way to work when he met his death.

Papi Matlho, a man who lives in the same yard as Mabaso, says that he became suspicious when he saw the couple’s 8-year-old son walking outside dressed only in a vest and looking very dizzy. When Matlho went to investigate, he found that there was a strong gas smell in the room.

"When we entered, we broke the windows and the door of the house to let out some of the gas smell. At the same time we called for help from neighbours and other community members," says Matlho.

Bongani Hlongwane, who was featured in last week’s edition of Vaal Weekly for allegedly being fired from work for declaring that he is HIV-positive, was first to get into the room and remove the gas cylinder. "I couldn’t even last for more than ten seconds in that house because the smell was very strong. I went back and dragged the lady out of the house as I could see that she was struggling to breath," relates Hlongwane.

The women and child were then rushed to hospital. Unfortunately Mabaso was only discovered later near the door leading to the garage. He was already dead at the time.

An investigation has been launched. Police spokesperson Inspector Molefe Mokoena says that an inquest has been launched.

"We are still awaiting the postmortem results to determine the cause of death," concludes Mokoena.