(In South Africa) Mologadi Mehlape Sentenced to Life for Murdering Father After Sangoma’s Claim, Sparking Debate on Traditional Healers

 

Sangomas, traditional healers in South Africa, are sparking intense public discussion due to debates over their authenticity, fueled by the recent conviction of 28-year-old Mologadi Magdeline Mehlape for the murder of her father, Dr. Malekutu Johannes Mehlape. Mehlape confessed to orchestrating the killing after a sangoma claimed her father was responsible for her mother’s death through the use of “muthi,” a traditional form of medicine or magic. This revelation has ignited conversations about the influence and credibility of sangomas in South African society, with opinions sharply divided on their spiritual and cultural role.

On December 28, 2023, Mologadi Mehlape facilitated her father’s murder by hiring assassins for R200,000 and leaving the gate to his home unlocked. Dr. Mehlape, a respected circuit manager at the Limpopo Education Department, was ambushed in his bedroom while asleep, shot multiple times, and robbed of valuables, including his cellphone. The Polokwane High Court sentenced Mologadi to life imprisonment for the murder, alongside a concurrent 15-year sentence for robbery. The case has prompted broader reflection on the role of traditional healers, with some questioning their practices and others defending their cultural significance