INYANGA ‘BLACK CAT’, RELATIVE KILLED IN FLOODS

MBABANE - The raging effects of Cyclone Eloise have claimed two lives, one being that of well-known traditional healer Elliot ‘Black Cat’ Fakudze.

Information gathered is to the effect that Fakudze drowned while attempting to cross Mndobandoba Bridge yesterday afternoon. It is said that the traditional healer was driving his white Toyota Fortuner, which was swept away by the flooded river. Fakudze’s death was confirmed by his close relatives. He was with other family members in the car when it was swept by the raging floods. Fakudze, together with another passenger, believed to be his relative, were confirmed dead at the scene. Two others managed to escape the raging floods.

Trapped

According to a video clip which has been circulating on social media, the motor vehicle was trapped at the riverbank, while facing the fast flowing dirty water, a few metres down from the bridge. Members of the public tried in vain to save Fakudze’s life, but by the time he was retrieved, he had already passed away. Attempts were made by some passers-by to break the windscreen of his car, with the aim of saving the occupants; however, it was too late to save Fakudze. It is said that Fakudze died along with one of the passengers while two survived.  
The area’s residents believed that the car was hit hard by logs, which had been swept into the river by the gushing rain water.

During his lifetime, Fakudze made headlines when he threatened to deal with members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) whom he accused of killing his son, Mukelo, who was also a soldier. Fakudze also made headlines when he boasted about his calabash, which he kept at his consultation room. He said he had a talking calabash that dealt with anyone who dared cross his path. He was also known for huge sums of money which he kept in his consultation room. Fakudze is the traditional healer who once paid lobola for his two wives simultaneously.  

Recently, he declared that he could find the corpse of the Tanzanian woman which went missing while kept at the TB Hospital at Moneni, Manzini. He also formed part of the team that was vigorously pushing for the recognition of tradition medicine to treat COVID-19. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, confirmed the drowning incident. According to Vilakati, there were four occupants in the motor vehicle which was swept away by the floods. She said two occupants died while the other two survived. She also stated that apart from the Mndobandoba incident, two women survived at Mconcwane Bridge after their car was swept away by the flooded river.

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