Healer dies before he completed suing cops

Chofere was a farmer and a traditional healer

Benson Ntlemo

Well known traditional healer-cum- farmer Hasani Johannes Chauke, 62, of Matiane Village in Limpopo who is popularly known as Chofere, who claimed he had been assaulted by cops during 2015 has died before he could complete a civil claim against the cops.

The healer died last Friday at Malamulele Hospital after a short illness.
His younger brother GT Chauke said: “It is true my brother died after a short illness. When we sent him to hospital we were not expecting the worst because he had a problem with a leg that was swollen.”

Chofere said he was tortured

He said funeral arrangements have been planned for Saturday.
The service will be held at his household at 6:00 hrs am and he will be laid to rest at the family burial site in the area.

Residents say Chofere is one of the most well-known healers in the area and a hard worker who is also into farming, both agricultural and stock farming.

He burst onto the national spotlight in 2015 after the disappearance of 16 year old girl Hlulani Maswanganyi and her one month old baby.

Well known traffic cop Masingita Chavani who was arrested in connection with abduction and murder in the case allegedly told the police that she sent he body to Chauke and put it on the red sofa.

As a result police went to the traditional healer and allegedly administered electric shock on him.

But they later released him when they found he was not linked to the case.
There was also no red sofa in his home and Chofere related well with members of the community.

Asked if he knew the traffic cop, he said when the police asked him about her she never came to his mind.

But he later describe her as someone who asked for R50 whenever she stopped him on the road.

He vowed to sue the police who assaulted him.

Asked about the case GT Chauke said: “My brother had instructed a lawyer from Tzaneen to handle the case and it is a blow that he passed on before progress was made in the case.”

Hlulani disappeared on 10 October 2015.

Chavani was given a heavy sentence on 26 January 2018.
The Thohoyandou High Court gave her life sentence for murder and 20 years for abduction.

The sentences run concurrently.
He co accused Steven Sithole was given 20 years imprisonment after he confessed to the murder.

Hlulani’s body has not been found. Her baby body was found with her relatives in Thohoyandou and is alive.

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