“Don’t Harm Her”: Woman Disturbed by Strange Gogo in Her Backyard at 2 Am, SA Divided

• A woman caught a strange moment at 2 am when she found a gogo kneeling in her backyard
• When asked how she got in as the gate was closed, the elderly woman's response left many online users confused after viewing the clip shared on TikTok
• Social media users flooded the comments, some showing concerns about potential dementia, while others speculated about witchcraft
• Briefly News spoke with Mkhulu Thobile, a sangoma from Cape Town

In some communities, older people suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease are often misunderstood, with many mistakenly attributing strange behaviours to witchcraft rather than medical conditions. This lack of understanding is common in some black communities, where such illnesses can be seen through the lens of suspicion instead of empathy or proper diagnosis.

The lady, TikTok user @phondos92 captured an unsettling moment in her backyard in the early morning hours.

The lady finds a gogo in her backyard

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The clip begins with the lady filming an elderly woman kneeling in her backyard. The hun, clearly alarmed, asks what she is doing at that time of the night. Gogo responds that she knocked on the window, and when asked how she got in as the gate was closed, she says she went underneath the fence to enter.

She gets up from kneeling as the woman continues to film, and the clip ends with the woman questioning the situation further.

Watch the TikTok video below:

Seeing an elder person in the yard at night

The Briefly News team spoke with Mkhulu Thobile, a sangoma from Cape Town, about beliefs around witchcraft. We asked Mkhulu what it means in the sangoma belief when an elderly person kneels in someone's yard at night or during early morning hours. He said:

"As sangomas, we know that strange things often happen at night, especially in the early morning hours. Some people pray or do rituals during this time, but others may use witchcraft.

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Seeing an elder kneeling in your yard at that time can be a spiritual sign, but it can also be worrying. We must not, however, rush to call it witchcraft; sometimes, old people with illnesses like dementia can get lost and end up in strange places without knowing."

We asked him if there was a way to tell the difference between witchcraft and medical conditions like dementia. The sangoma responded:

"Witchcraft is often secretive, and people involved in it may carry strange things or refuse to answer questions. They may not even know how good they got there, they might be sick rather than practising witchcraft.

The team asked how one should respond if they find an elder in their yard at night or in the morning. Mkhulu detailed:

"Stay calm and show respect. In Xhosa culture, elders must be treated well, regardless of the situation. First, ask them gently why they are there. If they seem lost or confused, they may need help getting help.

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If their presence, however, makes you uncomfortable spiritually, they can burn impepho to cleanse the space or use sea salt, melt it in water, add madubula (household disinfectant) and sprinkle it around the yard."

Mzansi is divided over gogo's actions

The click attracted many responses as social media users expressed concerns for the elderly lady. Some suggested that she might be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's, urging the woman not to harm her and to seek proper help.

Others shared their own experiences with family members dealing with similar conditions, highlighting the lack of awareness and support for those suffering from these illnesses. A few, however, speculated about witchcraft, warning the lady to protect her family from harm.

User @user7714416609184 said:

"People with dementia don't jump walls or gates, they just walk around or enter where gates or doors are opening, they don't jump fences or gates."

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User @Thandaza.🇿🇦 asked:

"Ganthi (isn't) dementia isn't supposed to make its victims revisit their old routine? Why would someone visit a place they are not familiar with?

User @Thato Moloi added:

"But she was knocking moes...show us where she said she entered...please don't give us half story."

User @Letjikoa said:

"She is dressed, and that could be that she is and not well, I don't think it's witchcraft."

User @Lady~Lebo commented:

"The fact that she got in while the gate was closed is a red flag😂."

User @Pinky Nathane🇿🇦 said:

"Please don't harm her, she's not in a right state of mind, she doesn't know where she is, talk to her, hence she was knocking on your window 😭😭."

3 Briefly News articles about gogos

• A grandson received many blessings from social media users after showing off the bricks he bought to build his gogo a decent home.
• A granny showed off her talent, rapping to a sick beat in his grandson's home studio, and social media users jokingly asked that she be kept away from popular deejays.
• A loving gogo surprised her grandson with brand-new shorts and a T-shirt while he was working in the yard, touching the hearts of many online users.

Source: Briefly News