Zombie Hunt Turns Violent

There was drama in Gabane Village when angry residents rioted after witch doctors claimed that a man that went missing a month ago was abducted and turned into a zombie.

Tension mounted on Tuesday as a group of over 100 angry villagers dispersed from the customary court under the watchful eyes of police officers and began the search for the missing man, Willie Leburane.

When they did not find him, the angry residents gathered in front of a local Sangoma’s yard whom that they suspected of having kidnapped Leburane to turn him into a Zombi. They demanded that the Sangoma’s house be searched, but the police refused as they feared for the woman’s safety.

“I told them to search but they refused. I am just an innocent Sangoma and my job is to heal and not kill people. How can an old woman like me abduct such a grown man?” quizzed the woman who refused to comment further.


By 5pm the police had to beef up their team as they brought more anti-riot officers. More drama ensued when the officers armed with tear-gas and rubber bullets struggled to disperse the obstinate crowd that fought back by throwing stones at the officers. Leburu’s father Ratobela, 71, said he last saw his son last month on June 26.

“I left him at home at around 9am and when I came back later in the evening he was gone without a trace.

He runs three tucks-hops but he was not at any of them.

At first we did not suspect anything out of the ordinary but when he did not show up the following day and did not answer his phone we got worried and reported him missing to the police,” he said.

The missing man’s distraught mother Mary, 65, said she suspected that her son may have been abducted for ritual purposes.

“I was at the lands when I received the news that he was missing Willie would not just abandon his business and family without a word and my fear is that someone may have turned him into a zombie,” she said.Meanwhile, Mogoditshane police Station Commander, Superintendent Nkwebi Chilisa, confirmed the incident.

“It’s true that we’re still searching for the man but right now we do not have any clue as to where he may be.

We are appealing to anyone with information to contact the nearest police station,”Chilisa said.