A teenager suffered severe burns when a pastor tried to perform a cleansing ritual using healing water "isiwasho".
Deborah Gcwensa, 19, of Shayamoya in Pietermaritzburg, was attending a church service on Saturday night when the liquid mixture used for the ritual scalded her, even though the ritual was being performed on another congregant.
When Sowetan visited Gcwensa at her home yesterday, she was unable to walk as she was burnt on her head, face, neck and legs. She also struggled to talk during the interview.
"I was standing about three metres from the pastor while he was performing his miracle on a church member," Gcwensa said.
She said the pastor had called his helpers to bring isiwasho - a mixture of petrol, methylated spirits and paraffin - in the bucket.
"He [pastor] lit a red candle, poured isiwasho in his mouth and it spilt on me. He then pointed the candle to my direction. I caught fire and fell," the teenager said.
Her angry mother Nonhlanhla Gcwensa said she wanted the pastor to pay for what he did to her daughter.
"I want this pastor to pay for surgery and get arrested for damaging my daughter's body.
"We don't care where he will get the money," said Gcwensa's mother.
"The worst thing was the pastor didn't even tell me about the incident.
"I was told by a certain church member after my daughter was taken to Edendale Hospital.
"I tried to call the pastor several times since Saturday night after the incident but his cellphone was off.
"He hasn't apologised to me," the mother said.
The family has opened a case with the police against the pastor, who has since disappeared from the area.
Local headman Zakhele Zondi said people were completely fooled by the fake pastors who pretended to be healers.
"People in my village are speaking good and bad about this pastor.
"He had confirmed my doubts because if he was a real pastor he wouldn't have run away," Zondi said.
Plessisaler police spokesman Musa Ntombela said they were investigating a case of attempted murder.
"We appeal to anyone with information that will lead to his arrest to call the police," Ntombela said.
Pastor flees after scalding teen during church ritual
A teenager suffered severe burns when a pastor tried to perform a cleansing ritual using healing water "isiwasho".
Deborah Gcwensa, 19, of Shayamoya in Pietermaritzburg, was attending a church service on Saturday night when the liquid mixture used for the ritual scalded her, even though the ritual was being performed on another congregant.
When Sowetan visited Gcwensa at her home yesterday, she was unable to walk as she was burnt on her head, face, neck and legs. She also struggled to talk during the interview.
"I was standing about three metres from the pastor while he was performing his miracle on a church member," Gcwensa said.
She said the pastor had called his helpers to bring isiwasho - a mixture of petrol, methylated spirits and paraffin - in the bucket.
"He [pastor] lit a red candle, poured isiwasho in his mouth and it spilt on me. He then pointed the candle to my direction. I caught fire and fell," the teenager said.
Her angry mother Nonhlanhla Gcwensa said she wanted the pastor to pay for what he did to her daughter.
"I want this pastor to pay for surgery and get arrested for damaging my daughter's body.
"We don't care where he will get the money," said Gcwensa's mother.
"The worst thing was the pastor didn't even tell me about the incident.
"I was told by a certain church member after my daughter was taken to Edendale Hospital.
"I tried to call the pastor several times since Saturday night after the incident but his cellphone was off.
"He hasn't apologised to me," the mother said.
The family has opened a case with the police against the pastor, who has since disappeared from the area.
Local headman Zakhele Zondi said people were completely fooled by the fake pastors who pretended to be healers.
"People in my village are speaking good and bad about this pastor.
"He had confirmed my doubts because if he was a real pastor he wouldn't have run away," Zondi said.
Plessisaler police spokesman Musa Ntombela said they were investigating a case of attempted murder.
"We appeal to anyone with information that will lead to his arrest to call the police," Ntombela said.
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