Satanists or naughty sexual delinquents?
Boniface Keakabetse | Monday May 5, 2014 15:20
From the caves, the alleged Satanists are said to have unleashed a reign of terror on the town. Reports say about 14 youngsters – seven boys and seven girls - worship a beast that lives in the caves in the usually peaceful Borolong ward. It is alleged that members of the group engage in sexual orgies in the caves where they parade in the nude.
A resident of Borolong told The Monitor that life has dramatically changed in the ward since reports of the Satanists emerged. “We used to take strolls along the river but we have stopped as we fear for our lives.” He said young boys can no longer fish in the river because they fear the worshippers.
A recent Kgotla meeting, attended by Maun DC, Bernadette Malala, the police and bogosi resolved to host a prayer night on Saturday at the Kgotla and another service yesterday at the caves to exorcise the demons.
Borolong headman, Polo Makwati has said he is concerned about the happenings at the caves. “We hear that this group which say they worship a big headed beast is causing mayhem at the river. Residents say they have seen them drinking alcohol and engaging in public sex,” he said.
He said residents with ploughing fields in the area are complaining that members of the group steal their produce. One of the residents said the group stole and cooked all his maize in the caves but he did not take action as he fears for his life.
Meanwhile, the acting commander of Maun Police Station, Assistant Superintendent Zhabi Hulela has said 12 youth aged between 17-20 years were recently caught at the caves.
He said the youth said they were in the caves to worship. Hulela said the right to worship is enshrined in the Constitution, so members of the group were treated as delinquents and released the same day. Kgosi Makwati has said a female member of the group appeared before the Maun Customary Court and was flogged for disappearing from her family home for a month.
Makwati said the young woman said she had been at the caves to worship the beast. She reportedly told the stunned court that the beast has a head like a buffalo and an elephant.
The curator at Nhabe Museum, John Fella rubbished claims that the caves were once a mortuary. He said the museum undertook research to identify the origins of the caves and it was found that they were dug as part of an aborted agricultural project.
He said there have been many misconceptions about the caves with some people believing they once extended from Maun to the Gcwihaba caves. Fella said the caves do not have any historical value and should be sealed as they are now a source of trouble.
Meanwhile, Aebe Aebe, the traditional doctor who was engaged by Maun residents to banish evil spirits from the caves has said reports about Satanism in Maun are a hoax. He said through his powers, he has found out that there are no evil spirits residing in the caves.
Aebe said he only found three blankets and a pot in the caves, which were used by the group pretending to be Satanists. “These are sex crazy youngsters claiming to be Satanists but they are not,” he said. His view was supported by Pastor Gilbert Ramokwena, who said talk of Satanism is a hoax perpetrated by a group of delinquents. The residents have decided to seal the entrance of the caves.