A Makhanda healer received a suspended sentence after her ritual treatment led to the death of a 10-year-old boy who begged for help.
A Makhanda spiritual healer’s unconventional treatment methods lead to a 10-year-old boy’s death, with a medical expert testifying that earlier medical attention could have saved his life.
Ntombentsha Limbo was sentenced to nine years imprisonment, suspended for five years, by the Makhanda Regional Court for culpable homicide.
Boy died after unconventional treatment by healer
The deceased Agcobile Busakwe collapsed and died on 4 October 2023 at Joza Location, Makhanda, following the use of numerous unconventional treatment methods by the healer.
The boy’s father took him to the healer after some concerns about his health and performance at school.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the court considered Limbo’s age and personal circumstances in handing down a non-custodial sentence despite the severity of the offence.
On the day in question, when the father and son arrived at the healer’s house, the dad told her why they were there, and Limbo recommended treatment before a consultation.
ALSO READ: Should a sick note from a traditional healer be recognised at work?
The child was physically well and active at the time, even joking and playing with his father.
Limbo started the treatment by giving Agcobile and his father five litres of salted water each in a bucket to make them throw up. While the son struggled and eventually left about 750ml of the water without vomiting much, the father finished first.
“On returning inside the structure where they were being treated, the young child informed his father that he was not feeling well, citing a headache and sleepiness,” said NPA regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali.
Boys tells dad about headache and sleepiness
Agcobile asked to go relieve himself shortly after, but he puked before reaching the door and then made it to the toilet. By the time he arrived, the boy had soiled himself a little bit, and Limbo allegedly helped him.
When the pair returned, they found Agcobile’s dad cleaning up his watery vomit and Limbo gave the boy a clean pair of pants to wear.
The boy informed his dad and Limbo that he wanted to sleep, so he laid down on the couch with his head resting on his father’s lap. Agcobile seemed tired and almost faint with red eyes.
ALSO READ: Celebrations outside court as Gogo Maweni granted R5 000 bail [VIDEO]
Tyali said Limbo continued to treat other patients, but when she returned to the father and son, she suggested that an enema be done on Agcobile to assist with his lethargy and the headache. Limbo allegedly claimed that she was shown a vision of something in the boy’s stomach.
After the father gave his consent, they made five more litres of water, woke the child, and administered an enema through his rectum. The process was repeated until the 5l of water was finished.
“At that stage the child was not getting better, but instead he was getting progressively weak, and he was crying, at some point asking his father to stop the healer as he felt he was going to die,” Tyali said.
Boys pleas fell on deaf ears
“These pleas fell on deaf ears; his father was in fact convinced by the healer that his son would be well, and he was told it could be the evil spirit that was refusing the treatment.”
Five more litres of water were prepared, this time with Sunlight laundry bar soap in it, and another enema was performed with this water, leaving only a small amount of this water remaining.
They poured water into Agcobile’s eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth in an attempt to drive out “evil spirits” before allowing him to lie down.
ALSO READ: Traditional healer and sons charged with murder after love proposal turns deadly
While the boy was lying down, Limbo called one of her mentors asking for advice and said she performed all the necessary treatments, but Agcobile was not getting better.
At that point, Agcobile’s dad noticed that his son was foaming at the mouth and struggling to breathe.
Limbo’s mentor then suggested that they call an ambulance, but the father had already run to a local clinic to report the problem. Clinic personnel advised Agcobile’s dad to bring him for medical attention, and the father organised transport for his son.
Boy dies at clinic
“Attempts were made to resuscitate the now unconscious child, to no avail. His father was informed of his unfortunate demise,” Tyali said.
During Limbo’s trial, the regional court prosecutor Khwezikazi Mankonti led evidence from the father and a medical doctor who performed the postmortem on the deceased.
“The doctor testified that had the deceased been given medical attention earlier after the first five litres was administered, his organs and subsequently his brain would not have failed,” Tyali said.
ALSO READ: Traditional healer gunned down during consultation at a PMB hotel
“The doctor further told the court that even an adult having received almost 15 litres of water in his body, would not have survived.”
After entering a not guilty plea to the charge, Limbo made confessions, acknowledged all of the treatment the way she administered it. She did not refute any of the state’s evidence, not even during examination in chief, and simply denied that she was responsible for Agcobile’s death.
Tyali added that Limbo failed to provide a convincing defence during cross-examination for not stopping the child’s treatment, even when his condition worsened and he begged for his life.
Accused didn’t explain why she didn’t stop treatment
The majority of the children Limbo treats do the same, so the accused said she believed he was pretending to avoid receiving treatment. When asked why the boy would go into a deep sleep while she attended to other patients, she was unable to provide an explanation.
“The court arrived at a non-custodial sentence, citing her age and personal circumstances, even though the state had argued for a custodial sentence, citing the severity of the offence and the plea to send out a strong message to other traditional and spiritual healers not to be reckless when treating their patients,” Tyali said.
