Eastern Cape: Traditional healer accused of sexually abusing five boys

A 71-year-old traditional healer in Motherwell, Eastern Cape fears for his life: The man is accused of having sexually assaulted five boys who were “seeking supernatural powers.” The suspect, Zukile Douglas Tyobeka was denied bail by the Motherwell Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 23 July 2021.

Tyobeka’s bail refusal is attributed to the fact that outraged community members, who forced his adult children to flee their home have threatened to kill him, should he return.

’’The court also found that Tyobeka did not provide exceptional circumstances for him to be granted bail and that the offences he is accused of were serious. Tyobeka initially abandoned his bail on 27 January, 2021,’’ National Prosecuting Authority Eastern Cape spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani said.

Details of boys’ sexual assault by traditional healer

According to the NPA, Zukile Tyobeka is said to have sexually assaulted the five boys, who are aged between 13 and 17, between  2019 and 2021. It is during the same period that he allegedly instructed a 17-year-old boy to rape a 13-year-old girl.

“On separate occasions the boys visited Tyobeka’s home seeking supernatural powers and protection. He offered them a band which allegedly possessed supernatural powers and also required them to undergo a spiritual ritual,” Ngcakani added.

“The ritual entailed steaming the entire body for an hour and applying muti on the body. The alleged victims were then required to sleep naked on Tyobeka’s bed overnight. It is alleged that the victims would then wake up in the middle of the night and find him sexually assaulting them”

National Prosecuting Authority Eastern Cape spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani

The Motherwell Magistrate’s Court heard how Tyobeka had told the boys that the sexual acts were necessary for the spiritual rituals to be successful. His case was postponed to September 3 for further investigation.