Two arrested after 75-year-old woman accused of witchcraft beaten and drowned

Two held after elderly woman allegedly killed over witchcraft accusation

Two women aged 26 and 28 have been arrested by the South African Police Service in connection with the violent death of 75-year-old Nokhansala Sidiki, Eastern Cape police said. Sidiki was taken from her home in Zadungeni Village on Sunday morning and later found dead in a stream.

How the attack unfolded

Police say Sidiki was beaten with a plank and later drowned. Investigators also found strangulation marks on her body. The motive for the assault is believed to be suspicions that she practiced witchcraft.

Arrests and the ongoing investigation

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed the two suspects are in custody after arrests on Monday. She said the manhunt launched by police after the killing continues and that more arrests are imminent.

Police reaction and call to communities

Lieutenant General Vuyisile Ncata, Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, described the killing as a “savage and deeply disturbing attack on a vulnerable elderly woman” and warned against taking the law into one’s own hands.

“Accusing someone of witchcraft and taking the law into your own hands is not only illegal but inhuman. We will leave no stone unturned until those responsible are arrested and face the full might of the law. I also call on community leaders to help us uproot this dangerous mob justice mentality. If you know something, speak out; silence makes you complicit.”

What police are asking the public

Authorities have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or report anonymously via the MySAPS app. Police said all information will be treated confidentially.

Why Johannesburg readers should take notice

While the killing took place in the Eastern Cape, the case underscores ongoing concerns about mob justice and attacks on vulnerable people an issue that resonates nationally. Police statements emphasise community cooperation and reporting, a message relevant to readers across Gauteng and Johannesburg as law enforcement works to prevent similar incidents.