Phumza Sigaqa – the woman branded a sangoma by the public – has been forced into hiding after charges against her were dropped amid the disappearance of Joslin Smith.
The Saldanha Bay resident has spoken out for the first time since being falsely accused of buying the six-year-old for the purposes of muti.
On 19 February – more than a month ago – the six-year-old – disappeared from her home in the Middelpos informal settlement in Diazville, Saldanha Bay.
Four suspects – including Joslin’s mother, Kelly, and her boyfriend, Jacquin Appollis, as well as friends Steveno Van Rhyn and Lourentia Lombaard, have been arrested for kidnapping and human trafficking.
They are currently in custody.
JOSLIN SMITH EX-ACCUSED SPEAKS OUT
Earlier this month, Phumza Sigaqa appeared in the Vredenburg Magistrates court, along with Joslin Smith’s mother, Kelly, Van Rhyn, and Appollis.
The charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Western Cape division spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila told eNCA: “At this stage, the charges against her have been withdrawn. The investigation is continuing, and depending on what comes out, anything can happen. Charges may be reinstated at a later stage”.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Phumza claimed that she had been falsely implicated by two of the accused: Van Rhyn and Appollis. She also alleged police beat her into making a confession.
She said: “I was beaten under my feet, on my knees, had water poured on me and suffocated with a plastic bag.
“During this time, I was forced to say that Joslin was in my care. I was willing to die for my truth. The people in my community know I am not involved”.
Images via YouTube screenshot: SABC News
Although she is now a free woman, Phumza claims her reputation has been tarnished.
She continued: “Life will never be the same. I will always be known as the sangoma and the woman who stole the child. I pray that she can be found so that I can be absolved”.
Phumza – who has been forced to flee her home in Diazville, Saldanha Bay – states that she last saw Joslin with her mother and sibling on the afternoon of her disappearance. This contradicts Kelly’s version of events where she claims Joslin had already disappeared when she arrived home from work.
SANGOMAS FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY
Meanwhile, a South African sangoma has expressed her fears of a public backlash amid rumours Joslin Smith has reportedly been sold for the purpose of muti.
Lindiwe Mabuza – who is a traditional healer – told The South African that many others had had hostile encounters with the public following Joslin’s disappearance.
The Johannesburg woman was hoping to educate the public that healers – who fell under the umbrella of the name “sangoma” – did not practise dark magic or use body parts as muti.
In a TikTok video, she also shared that healers should not be confused with “witch doctors.”
She said: “Not everyone that is a sangoma is a witch. Once you are a witch, you may have started your journey as a healer. But then somewhere out there, you got caught up in the dark world – a witch or umthakathi
“Once you go to the dark side, you cannot come back and heal. So, people who use body parts and do these evil things do not deserve to be called izangoma.
Mabuza added that the reference to sangomas in Joslin Smith’s disappearance could spell a “big racial war.”
She continued: “I feel the war that’s going to come is caused by this whole misunderstanding about who is a witch and who is a healer.
“I feel for what is going to happen to people like us. I do not want to be attacked just because I’m a sangoma and a traditional healer.
Appealing to the public, she added: “Please try and understand the difference between sangoma and witches, who use body parts.”
@swannie00 #jolsin #joslinsmith #bringjoslinhome #SAMA28 #tiktoksa #southafrica #fyp #foryou #helpfindjoslin #southafrica #suidafrika #southafricatiktok🇿🇦 #tiktoksouthafrica🇿🇦🇿🇦 #tiktoksouthafrica🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 ♬ original sound – Swannie
