Sakhile Mokoena

Sakhile Mokoena

A trainee sangoma apparently went berserk in a remote village in Mpumalanga this week killing his 70-year-old woman trainer and his wife with a spear.

Police spokesman Superintendent Abie Khoabane said the man, in his late 40s, is now in hospital under heavy police guard.

Khoabane said the man, who was apparently in the final stages of his sangoma training in the rural village of Madras in Bushbuckridge, had been on a drinking spree during Wednesday, the eve of Women's Day.

That night the man reportedly went into the bedroom of his mentor, Sally Nkosi- Mokoena, and stabbed her in the chest with a spear.

When Mokoena's screams were heard, other people including the suspect's wife, rushed to investigate.

"The man went beserk and chased everyone. His wife tried to calm him down and took the spear from him

"Just as she thought she had calmed him down, the man suddenly grabbed the spear from her and stabbed her in the neck.

"She died instantly," Khoabane said.

The man then went to the local clinic where he also attacked a female security guard before locking himself inside the guard's office at the gate.

Police who arrived on the scene pleaded with the man to come out of the office.

When he finally came out, he attacked the police as well.

"He was too violent and resisted arrest. Police shot him in the leg to subdue him before arresting him," Khoabane said.

The man is under police guard in hospital and will appear in court soon.