Jacob Mallane is a traditional spiritual healer in Rosendal town in Free State province
bordering South Africa and Lesotho. When he was only eleven years old, Jacob got ill, severe stomach cramps. He had a dream and when he was taken to the traditional spiritual healer he got healed. Due to the dream he had, the healer told him that he was chosen by the ancestors to become a sangoma, a traditional spiritual healer. It is believed that once a
person has been chosen to become a sangoma, one cannot resist.
Jacob is also a policeman, together with his wife. He is in charge of curbing the crimes in his community. Jacob admits that crime is as a result of poverty.
“When I came to Rosendal I became a crime intelligence officer. But now came a new station commander who said I’d be a social crime prevention officer, going to work with the
community and trying to identify the problems, social problems that at the end of the day
become criminal problems,” told Jacob.
Jacob’s love for his community extends to the youth. He’s the coach of the local football
team, The Wayawaya that pulls a big number of the local youth and hence keeping them out of drugs and crime activities.
“He’s very helpful in our community because he has a soccer team which he has taken about twenty five young boys. All our younger brothers are in the soccer training. So it keeps them busy for a certain time in order for them not to do bad things or be involved in crime,” told Desmond Mohau – member of Soccer Team.
“It has brought the people of Rosendal together. Even those who were forgetting about
sports nowadays say, we want to join, because here we do have fun,” told Jacob.
Jacob visits natural areas to collect herbs for healing purposes and often goes to a natural
holy site to pray for his people and his personal needs.
“The Wonderclip is the place where we believe the spirit of our ancestors is there. That is
the place I go to ask for advice, direct to ancestors,” he told.
As a Sangoma, the healer is supposed to evoke the ancestors and submit one’s supplications.
And though many would deem a sangoma prays to the ancestors, Jacob is quick to assert
that a sangoma does not pray to the ancestors.
“We are not praying to the ancestors, we are praying to God through the ancestors,” he
told.
It is not easy being a Sangoma as one of the Sangoma narrates.
“Some people come here not knowing what they want or without guidance from the
ancestors. Some come without any calling.” This is a worrying proof of their people losing
their traditions.
Through police work, healing, coaching and training of the young people in football, Jacob is
glad that he’s contributing positively to his community, one day at a time.
“As an individual I am late to reap the fruits but let me start preparing for my people,” he
told.
