A woman died last Thursday in Ha-Matala after allegedly drinking a sangoma’s concoction that her family believes was poisonous. ’Mateboho Tsikoane, 38, of Lithabaneng Ha-Kepi in Teya-Teyaneng, allegedly immediately fell unconscious after drinking the brew from the sangoma’s cauldron. Tsikoane, the family said, was not sick but she had accompanied her sick brother, Teboho, to consult the sangoma.
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She had to drink the concoction as part of the rite for people who visit such traditional doctors. Pule Shale, the sangoma, claims to use a mirror to diagnose his patients’ illnesses and problems.
Tsikoane’s brother, Tšomo Tsikoane, said she fell from her chair and started vomiting immediately after drinking the concoction.
As his sister lay on the floor, Teboho, the brother she had accompanied, asked the sangoma to help but he said there was nothing special about her situation.
Tšomo Tsikoane said the sangoma told Teboho that “some patients remain unconscious for as much as four hours” and insisted that she must be left alone until she wakes up.
As Tsikoane lay unconscious and possibly already dead, Shale is said to have instructed people to chant religious songs and clap hands in unison.
Tšomo Tsikoane, told thepost that Shale claimed it was normal for people to fall unconscious after drinking his medicine.
The chanting, Tšomo Tsikoane, said continued until another sangoma arrived and advised that Tsikoane should be taken to hospital.
She was taken to Queen ’Mamohato Memorial Hospital where she was declared dead.
Tšomo Tsikoane said a post-mortem revealed that his sister had a poisonous liquid in her stomach.
He said they have asked the pathologist for further tests whose results are expected in the next few weeks.
“We believe she was poisoned. She was given something poisonous. She might have been given a stronger dosage,” Tšomo Tsikoane said.
The matter was reported to the Lithabaneng police and Shale was questioned.
Police spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Kabelo Halahala, said they are investigating the case.
“It is just an inquiry into the death,” S/Supt Halahala said, adding that the file is just about an inquiry.
“We want to know what led to this death,” he said.
S/Supt Halahala said they would be in a position to know what happened after the post-mortem results.
Shale claims to be a seipone (mirror) traditional doctor, who claims his herbs help patients see what is happening in their lives in a mirror.
Malefetsane Liau, the president of the Traditional Health Practitioners Council said seipone “medicine is not encouraged because it is dangerous”.
“You need to be very careful when you deal with it. Some people can become mentally disturbed after using it,” Liau said, adding that the lack of regulations might have led to the proliferation of fake or ill-trained sangomas.
“Traditional doctors have to exercise extra care when dealing with herbs. What is important is saving human life.”
Shale, the sangoma, declined to comment.
“This matter is already in the hands of the police to investigate. I cannot say anything about it,” he said.
Majara Molupe
