Four KwaZulu Natal women jailed for disembowelling teen relative in botched exorcism

23 January 2016 - 12:10 By Amanda Khoza
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Four women were given lengthy prison sentences on Friday for disembowelling their relative in what was believed to have been an act of exorcism, the KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority said.

Fundiswa Faku, 33, Lindelwa Jalubane, 42, Nokubonga Jalubane, 22 and Minenhle Jalubane, 19, were sentenced by a Durban High Court judge for the murder of Snethemba Dlamini, 14, in March 2012.

KwaZulu-Natal NPA spokesperson Natasha Kara said the women were relatives of Dlamini. Fundiswa Faku and Lindelwa Jalubane were her aunts and Nokubonga and Minenhle Jalubane her cousins.

Kara said on the day of the incident everyone gathered at Faku’s Umlazi home where they held a prayer service.

"They [the four] believed that Dlamini was 'demon possessed' and wanted to rid her of the demons."

Kara said that when Dlamini got home from school she was told that they were going to pray for her.

"Dlamini was held down while Faku used a knife and her hands to remove Dlamini’s intestines and internal organs through her vaginal cavity. Dlamini died on the scene."

State advocate Noxolo Dube told the court that the accused had committed a horrific offence and their sentence should be a fitting one. She said that Faku and Lindelwa Jalubane were older than Dlamini and she trusted them, and had looked to them for protection and guidance.

Kara said Faku and Lindelwa Jalubane were sentenced to life imprisonment and Nokubonga and Minenhle Jalubane were each sentenced to 12 years in jail, half suspended for a period of five years on condition that they are not convicted of a similar offence during this period.

KwaZulu-Natal Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Moipone Noko welcomed the sentence.

"The sentences are appropriate, given the serious nature of the crime. It is most unfortunate that a life was lost, especially in such a gruesome manner. We hope that this sentence has a deterrent effect on like-minded offenders."

Social Development MEC Weziwe Thusi said: "This is a classic case of blind faith. How can four grown women believe that disemboweling a young girl would help her? 

"I am just glad that our courts have sent a clear message that child abuse is child abuse and that there is no excuse for it."

Thusi said she was saddened by the gruesome crime, but relieved that the killers were behind bars.

Source: News24

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