Bizarre incident blamed on 'witchcraft'

by Feòrag

South Africa: Witchcraft has been blamed for the death of a baby whose skull was ripped apart and brain eaten by a baboon. Reports of the incident have been full of fascinating detail about witchcraft beliefs in the area:

Petrus Malgas, who tried to help rescue little Neo, told City Press that when he and other neighbours threw stones at the baboon, it climbed up the telephone pole and ate the child's brain before it fled into the bush.

Saomeng Phalatse of Sekhing said the whole episode boiled down to witchcraft, because it was unheard of that a baboon would eat a human being.

Although some people with western beliefs do not believe it, we know for a fact that African chemistry works in these areas.

A few years ago in Taung an inyanga, through her medicines, caused a young man to find himself with his bed and all on the top of his roof.

The incident was even shown on Bop TV. Why should we not believe Tukane was bewitched? said Gomotseng Badirwang, clutching her two-month-old baby.

Witchcraft, says baby's mom - News24, 8th June 2003.