Renowned spiritual healer and philanthropist MaNgconde Nomthunzi Mali continues to have such a profound impact that after almost 40 years in practice, pilgrims still stream to her home village in Debe Nek in the hope of being healed.
Mali, better known by her clan name “MaNgconde”, lives in Zigodlo and is the most popular faith healer in the Eastern Cape.
Supporters believe MaNgconde possesses supernatural powers.
Her devotees believe that on entering her sanctuary, they will have a religious epiphany and receive spiritual fulfilment and hope.
Although MaNgconde does not charge money for her services, she uses the donations she receives for community initiatives, including building houses for the destitute, classrooms and church halls for various denominations.
She also contributes funds to sport, youth and rural development.
The healer has rubbed shoulders with many prominent people, including statesmen, members of the judiciary, sports stars, senior clergy, monarchs, human rights activists and academics.
She has dined with US boxing promoter Don King, former presidents Nelson Mandela and Jacob Zuma, ministers Makhenkesi Stofile, Ngconde Balfour, Steve Tshwete, Zola Skweyiya and Tito Mboweni, as well as UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, Good leader Patricia de Lille and COPE leader Mosiuoa Lekota.
She uses donations for community initiatives, including building houses for the destitute, classrooms and church halls
In 2017, then ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane handed over a token of appreciation to MaNgconde for her community-building initiatives. Despite all this attention, she remains intensely humble.
“There is nothing special about me. I am just an elderly woman of Zigodlo, just a mere servant of God seeking to improve the lives of the poor and the destitute. I do not posses supernatural powers, but God is helping. I am no different to any other church members or preachers of the word of God. It is the power of God which assists people, not my special powers. So all the praise and glorification is for God,” she said.
Despite the multitudes seeking divine intervention, she is not running a church or congregation of her own, but is a staunch member of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.
MaNgconde was voted the 2004 Shoprite-Checkers/SABC 2 Community Builder of the Year.
In April, MaNgconde held her double celebration – the 38th year of faith healing and her 71st birthday.
Some 20,000 devotees came streaming from across the country and beyond the country’s borders to pay tribute.
There have been critics, however.
MaNgconde told of how some people from local churches had spread rumours that she had gone crazy and was luring people through the use of witchcraft in 1999.
“There were allegations that I was using a snake to heal people and that I was at a mental hospital chewing on the sheets.
“Some said I had turned into a snake, others said I was dead. These were not true and I think it was God’s way of testing my faith,” MaNgconde said.
“I use prayer to heal people and if one does not believe in the power of the Lord, then nothing I do can help them.”
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