A son who had a disagreement with his father over his sangoma calling allegedly stabbed him with a spear. The incident shocked the community of Ophaphasi in kwaHlabisa in the far north of KwaZulu Natal last Sunday night.

According to a neighbour, who spoke to ZiMoja on condition of anonymity, the father Bongani Ngcamu (51) and son, Funukwazi Ngcamu (31)

were heard arguing earlier that evening. Less than an hour later, the father was allegedly stabbed by his son in front of his mother. he was certified dead on the scene. "We have known the Ngcamu family for a long time and the head of family has always been a quiet person. I have never seen him getting into a fight with his sons. It seems as if something to do with Funukwazi's sangoma calling triggered an argument between the two," the neighbour said, claiming that Funukwazi was seen going around the yard at night and prophesying that something bad would happen in the yard. "He predicted that two people were going to die as there was lot of muthi that was used against the family," added the neighbour.

It's said that on the same night, Funukwazi's grandmother requested to have a prayer with the family but the newly graduated sangoma declined citing that he was guided by idlozi (ancestors). "He said he did not need any prayers and that he would use his powers and muthi to stop the ongoing witchcraft that he claimed was being carried out to his family. An argument ensued when he tried waking his father up. The father was upset as Funukwazi had nothing important to tell him," a family member said. The relative added that Bongani told his son that he did not recognise his sangoma calling and he must let him sleep peacefully as he was tired after attending a funeral during the day. "That is when hell broke loose, Funukwazi stabbed his father with a spear in front of his mother. He told his mother that a witch is now dead and there would no longer be witchcraft in the family after he killed his father," the neighbour said. The neighbour further said that after Funukwazi had killed his father, he asked people to call the cops.

"He never ran away. It seemed as if he had planned to kill his father. He told his mother not to worry as they had been freed from witchcraft. Funukwazi then went to sleep in his hut where he waited for the police to arrive," the neighbour said. Local induna, Bheki Mdletshe, confirmed the incident. "I was asleep when I received a call during the night informing me about an incident that took place at the Ngcamu family household. I woke up and rushed there and found Ngcamu lying dead in his room with a spear still lodged in his body. I called the cops, and his son was patiently waiting for them to come pick him up," Mdletshe said. Funukwazi appeared in Hlabisa Magistrates Court on Tuesday, and he was remanded in custody until next Friday for a formal bail application.