Man accused of abusing 21 at initiation school threatens to bewitch journalist

A man accused of raping and sexual assaulting 21 girls at an initiation school has threatened to bewitch a journalist who reported on the court case.

Johan Jabulani Mlombo (48), from Mahushu near Hazyview, Mpumalanga, was attending his trial in the Nelspruit Circuit of Pretoria's North Gauteng High Court on Tuesday when he approached African Eye News Service court reporter Eric Mashaba.

"Ndoda (man) why did you take pictures of me and write about me? Do you know there’s muthi in this world? I own a church and I can brew my muthi and bewitch you. Stop this thing, if you want a good story wait until I’m acquitted and have an exclusive interview which you will like," Mlombo told Mashaba.

When Mashaba told Mlombo that he was not afraid of witchcraft and was merely doing his job, Mlombo then started suggesting he and Mashaba were like relatives.

"You are a Mashaba. The Mashabas are my relatives; you are my blood and you should know that these girls have been bewitched to turn against me by other initiation school owners who are jealous of my work. I get more initiates than anybody else so they have bewitched them to lie against me. You must be careful, Mashaba, these people are just using muthi, they made the minds of the girls go crazy so they turn against me,” said Mlombo.

Mashaba said he would let the court processes run their course while he does his job.

He said there was no need to press intimidation charges against Mlombo because he had not threatened him with any tangible danger, but witchcraft.

Mlombo who was arrested on August 29, 2012 along his wife, Sister Mapalase Khoza (41).

They have both pleaded not guilty to 27 rape charges, three sexual assaults and 19 counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

They have been granted R1 000 bail each.

The girls testified that Khoza’s wife would wake them up at the initiation school and lead them into a dark room, where they were smeared with muthi and raped.

They said they were told that this was "The Big Initiation" and that they would go mad if they ever told anyone.

The trial continues. - African Eye News Service