Female native doctor arrested for forcing herself on underage boy with mental illness

A 39-year-old female sangoma, Catherine Nhongo, has been arrested after allegedly forcing herself on a 17-year-old boy suffering from mental illness. 

The incident, which occurred on November 10, has shocked the local community and led to charges of aggravated indecent assault.

Nhongo appeared before regional magistrate Donald Ndirowei, who remanded her in custody as the court decides whether to grant her bail. During the court session, disturbing details about the events leading up to the assault were revealed.

According to reports, the 17-year-old boy’s sister met Nhongo while shopping, and after explaining her brother’s struggles with speech and other disabilities, Nhongo offered to help heal him. The sister agreed, and Nhongo invited the family to her home for a spiritual healing session.

Upon their arrival, Nhongo asked the boy’s brother to buy beer and cigarettes to conduct her rituals. Unaware of the potential danger, the brother complied. Nhongo consumed the items and then instructed the boy’s brother to stuff mealie meal in the boy’s mouth.

She proceeded to touch the boy across his body and told his siblings to leave the house. The sangoma claimed she needed privacy to help the boy who was unwell. They complied, believing they were supporting a healing process.

What transpired next was horrifying. The siblings heard unsettling noises from the house. After about 15 minutes, the boy emerged, raising his hands in distress. He used his brother’s phone to type a chilling message, exposing that the female sangoma had r_ped him. The brother quickly alerted his sisters, who swiftly called the police.

In a frantic attempt to escape, Nhongo tried to flee the scene but was caught by the boy’s brother before she could get away.