Mother and healer charged: 8-year-old boy set alight in tokoloshe ritual

A  FREE State mother and a traditional healer have been charged with attempted murder for pouring petrol on the woman's son and setting him alight. 

According to police, this was an attempt to perform a ritual meant to remove a tokoloshe.

Tokoloshe is a mythical creature believed in South African tradition to be linked to witchcraft and misfortune.

The mother, 39, and the traditional healer, 40, were arrested by the Ficksburg Family, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. 

Provincial spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring said the incident took place on January 4, 2025. 

Speaking about the incident, police said the 8-year-old boy who lives in Meqheleng near Ficksburg was falsely reported missing on the community social media. 

“It was established that he was sick,” said Mophiring

He added that the mother allegedly took her son to a prophet who said that the child was afflicted by a tokoloshi and instructed her to take him to a traditional healer.

“It is further alleged that petrol was poured on the child and he was set alight in an attempt to remove the tokoloshe,” Mophiring.

The boy suffered severe burns and was rushed to a local hospital.

“He was further referred to another hospital in Bloemfontein and discharged on April 29, 2025.”

Mophiring said the matter was hidden until a community member found the truth and reported the case to the police.

“On May 14, 2025, the mother and traditional leader were arrested and charged with attempted murder and child neglect and expected to appear before the Ficksburg Magistrate court on Friday, 16 May 2025,” Mophiring said.