THE community of Roadhouse in Malamulele, Limpopo, has caused a stir by firing local civic leaders after they refused to deal with witchcraft matters.

Civic association chairman Thomas Bila, who was booed by the mob when he announced their stance, was immediately removed from chairing the meeting and replaced by the local Thulamela municipality ward councillor James Mahlawule.

The meeting, which was also attended by the police from Malamulele police station, was to report on the community's demand that a Mozambican woman they accused of witchcraft be expelled from the area.

Bila said they had asked the chief to address the gathering but he (chief) said he could only do so on Saturday. This was rejected by the villagers.

"If the civic is not telling us that the witches are going, they must go," a villager said.

Sowetan understands that the witchcraft accusations follows claims that a woman took some soil from a graveyard on the day a woman who was her neighbour was buried.

She is said to have said that, according to her belief, each time she gets inside a cemetery she must take some soil.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Alson Mapindani confirmed the situation at Roadhouse and said police were monitoring it.