A woman who allegedly claimed she could raise people from the dead for a fee caused a stir when she appeared in the Cathcart Magistrate’s Court yesterday.Nolonwabo Lapi Mangele, who said she was from KwaZulu-Natal, was nabbed by police in Cathcart on Monday while on her way to King William’s Town.
She had visited a Cathcart family at the weekend, apparently after being called on to bring a dead relative back to life.
Wearing a white and navy striped dress, shivering and covered with a small blanket, Mangele shied away from Daily Dispatch cameras and avoided eye contact with those in court. After spending more than 24 hours in a holding cell, she had travelled between Cathcart and Stutterheim yesterday following confusion about where her case was to be heard.
Mangele faces two Eastern Cape counts of theft under false pretences. Police spokeswoman Lieutenant Namhla Mdleleni said Mangele faced a number of similar cases in the Western Cape.
While she insisted on covering her face inside court ahead of her appearance, magistrate Reet Müller asked her to remove the blanket from her head as she walked into the court room. “You are not allowed to cover yourself inside the court,” Müller told her.
Mdleleni said Mangele had also been charged with fraudulently receiving money from desperate families in Stellenbosch, who believed she could wake their loved ones from the dead.
“She had visited Cathcart on the same business. There was suspicion that her claims were not true, as she made people believe that she could wake people from the dead who had passed on under mysterious circumstances,” Mdleleni said.
Since 2008, Mangele had allegedly been involved in scams in which families paid about R80 for a consultation and a deposit of R2500.
It is alleged her prices had gone up to R15000, which included a deposit of R7500.
In addition to requesting a deposit, she was accused of demanding money for food, clothes and airtime. Mangele allegedly accepted R7000 from one person as a deposit.
“This court would advise you to appoint a lawyer to represent you…because the case you are faced with is a serious case which you will need representation,” Müller said.
Following her court appearance Mangele was informed that her case would be transferred to Stellenbosch, where she was due to appear in the local court tomorrow. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Woman in court over ‘raising dead’
Nolonwabo Lapi Mangele, who said she was from KwaZulu-Natal, was nabbed by police in Cathcart on Monday while on her way to King William’s Town.
She had visited a Cathcart family at the weekend, apparently after being called on to bring a dead relative back to life.
Wearing a white and navy striped dress, shivering and covered with a small blanket, Mangele shied away from Daily Dispatch cameras and avoided eye contact with those in court. After spending more than 24 hours in a holding cell, she had travelled between Cathcart and Stutterheim yesterday following confusion about where her case was to be heard.
Mangele faces two Eastern Cape counts of theft under false pretences. Police spokeswoman Lieutenant Namhla Mdleleni said Mangele faced a number of similar cases in the Western Cape.
While she insisted on covering her face inside court ahead of her appearance, magistrate Reet Müller asked her to remove the blanket from her head as she walked into the court room. “You are not allowed to cover yourself inside the court,” Müller told her.
Mdleleni said Mangele had also been charged with fraudulently receiving money from desperate families in Stellenbosch, who believed she could wake their loved ones from the dead.
“She had visited Cathcart on the same business. There was suspicion that her claims were not true, as she made people believe that she could wake people from the dead who had passed on under mysterious circumstances,” Mdleleni said.
Since 2008, Mangele had allegedly been involved in scams in which families paid about R80 for a consultation and a deposit of R2500.
It is alleged her prices had gone up to R15000, which included a deposit of R7500.
In addition to requesting a deposit, she was accused of demanding money for food, clothes and airtime. Mangele allegedly accepted R7000 from one person as a deposit.
“This court would advise you to appoint a lawyer to represent you…because the case you are faced with is a serious case which you will need representation,” Müller said.
Following her court appearance Mangele was informed that her case would be transferred to Stellenbosch, where she was due to appear in the local court tomorrow. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos