A family in Bobonong are thanking their gods for spiritual intervention they believe has brought to an end an affliction that has troubled them for over 12 years.
The Morake family have lost almost all their belongings to a mysterious fire that has been raging in their humble homestead since 2010.
The old woman, Mokgadi Morake and her two daughters Bettinah (32) and Karabo Morake (29) have been a laughing stock in Bobonong for over a decade.
The family was shunned by villagers, neighbours and family as the fiery misfortune followed them wherever they went.
Narrating their decade long torment, Morake said the mysterious fires believed to be a thokolosi began sometime in 2010.
“Everything in the house just randomly caught fire. Our lives were turned upside down as we lived in fear of an inferno that erupted without warning,” recalled Morake.
She said besides the fire, the invisible creature seemed to get a kick out of throwing stones at their two bedroom house, breaking all the windows and sending everyone into hiding.
“Every move I made, was met with a loud bang, as a rock hit either the roof or crushed through the window,” she said.
“We’ve spent lots of money, paying traditional healers and preachers for exorcism, but the fires persisted, and became more frequent and brutal,” a shaking Morake revealed.
The old woman said they sought refuge from relatives and neighbours but the fires would follow them, and burn down their hosts’ belongings.
Her sister Tshwarelo Baabona found out the hard way after she accommodated one of her nieces.
“I was on my way to the lands when I received a call, and was informed that my house was on fire. I lost everything. The house burnt down and nothing was recovered,” recalled Baabona somberly.
“There’s however nothing I won’t do for my sister and her kids, I’ve stood by them and will continue supporting them,” she said.
The family’s flammable troubles however subsided this year in June when Archbishop Tebogo Nsakwa and his congregation from Ocean of God Church in Mmadinare paid them a visit.
According to Morake, they learnt about the church through the viral Tobane exorcism video on The Voice Facebook page on 25th September last year.
Nsakwa and his disciples invaded Tobane in September to get rid of a shot tempered thokolosi that dished out hot slaps for fun, burning down property and physically abusing a 13-year old boy (Thokolosi on the lose, 03 September 2021).
The church proceeded to take Morake’s two daughters who for the past six years have been receiving spiritual care at the Mmadinare temple. According to their mother, she has not experienced any fires since their departure in June.
On Saturday, Betinah and Karabo were returned home through song and dance. The church’s energetic young prophets turned the entire place upside down during an exorcism ritual extracting mostly animal body parts.
Some of the extracted objects include a monitor lizard, a baboon skull clasping at a small ointment container, an ant bear paw, and a flaming cow horn.
Addressing the family Archbishop Nsakwa said the two siblings were the source of the problem hence the need to separate them from the family for six months.
“The old woman did not bewitch anyone. She’s not a witch, and now all her troubles are gone,” said Nsakwa.
Absolved by the man of God from any wrong doing, Morake was almost in tears as she talked about living in shame for 12 years.
“No one wanted me. People talked in hushed voices when I passed; saying there goes the fire lady,” she said choking in tears
Morake thanked the church for their selflessness and for bringing dignity to her family.
Bishop Nsakwa pleaded with her congregants and willing donors to put resources together to help the Morake family rebuild her house.
Nsakwa and his team now have set their sight on the Maitengwe mystery fires that have so far burnt down seven houses. (Thokolosi’s saucy tantrums, Voice 18 October 2022).
