The Tlhobogang family in Mmathethe has been left traumatised and fearful after mysterious fires engulfed their homestead repeatedly for three days, some of which were consecutive.
A family representative, Alice Tlhobogang told The Midweek Sun that the fire started on the 29th of May 2022 in their parents’ bedroom, burning their bed.
According to Tlhobogang, the fire appeared again on Monday proceeding to the children’s bedroom where it burned beds and clothing items. On Tuesday it spread further into the house and burned items in the sitting room.
The family does not know the possible cause of the fire. This is the third time the family is experiencing the mysterious fire and has since sought help from a church that is scheduled to conduct an all-night prayer session in the compound. “The last two fires we encountered were in September 2021," Tlhobogang said, noting that the recent fires started at 8 pm on Monday, and on Tuesday at 3 pm.
She said the second fire incident was noticed by children, who then notified the parents, but still, no one knew the cause, Tlhobogang said.
Tlhobogang said the fires appear to be occurring in the same pattern. She pleaded with the public to assist by donating clothing, blankets, and some utensils for their lives to continue.
She said that for donations especially clothes and shoes, her mother's dress size is 44 and size 6 for shoes, while her father’s size is 32 and size 7 for shoes, her younger siblings, are two girls, one doing Form 2 and the other standard 4, as well as her little brother aged 4.
According to Arch Bishop France Keoagile of New Mission Apostolic Church in Palapye, mysterious fires are often caused by goblins that some people acquire with the intention of getting rich or resolving family conflicts.
Keoagile added that some of the incidents are caused by people who might have evil intentions against others. He noted that usually they use traditional medicine from western African countries to prepare their rituals.
“Normally what they do is they order these medicines in West African countries. For instance, they could place a bowel full of charcoal in front of one’s yard and use it to control that person's life.
“They add any flammable liquid on the bowel and they call upon their victim's name for flames to attack that person or their property," Keoagile said.
Keoagile noted that in most cases in Botswana such incidents occur because of family conflicts over an inheritance. In instances where the fire occurs many times, it would usually follow and attack only one person in the house but it ends up destroying property.
He urged the public to depend on God and pray daily to avoid such attacks.
A family representative, Alice Tlhobogang told The Midweek Sun that the fire started on the 29th of May 2022 in their parents’ bedroom, burning their bed.
According to Tlhobogang, the fire appeared again on Monday proceeding to the children’s bedroom where it burned beds and clothing items. On Tuesday it spread further into the house and burned items in the sitting room.
The family does not know the possible cause of the fire. This is the third time the family is experiencing the mysterious fire and has since sought help from a church that is scheduled to conduct an all-night prayer session in the compound. “The last two fires we encountered were in September 2021," Tlhobogang said, noting that the recent fires started at 8 pm on Monday, and on Tuesday at 3 pm.
She said the second fire incident was noticed by children, who then notified the parents, but still, no one knew the cause, Tlhobogang said.
Tlhobogang said the fires appear to be occurring in the same pattern. She pleaded with the public to assist by donating clothing, blankets, and some utensils for their lives to continue.
She said that for donations especially clothes and shoes, her mother's dress size is 44 and size 6 for shoes, while her father’s size is 32 and size 7 for shoes, her younger siblings, are two girls, one doing Form 2 and the other standard 4, as well as her little brother aged 4.
According to Arch Bishop France Keoagile of New Mission Apostolic Church in Palapye, mysterious fires are often caused by goblins that some people acquire with the intention of getting rich or resolving family conflicts.
Keoagile added that some of the incidents are caused by people who might have evil intentions against others. He noted that usually they use traditional medicine from western African countries to prepare their rituals.
“Normally what they do is they order these medicines in West African countries. For instance, they could place a bowel full of charcoal in front of one’s yard and use it to control that person's life.
“They add any flammable liquid on the bowel and they call upon their victim's name for flames to attack that person or their property," Keoagile said.
Keoagile noted that in most cases in Botswana such incidents occur because of family conflicts over an inheritance. In instances where the fire occurs many times, it would usually follow and attack only one person in the house but it ends up destroying property.
He urged the public to depend on God and pray daily to avoid such attacks.
