“No, you cannot bring your short friend and claim R100 million.”
That is the blunt message from Limpopo police following a wave of disturbing social media claims alleging that traditional healers were buying people living with dwarfism for millions of rand.
The claims, which have spread widely across social media platforms in recent days, prompted a strong response from provincial police leadership, who labelled the allegations false, dangerous and irresponsible.
Speaking through a media statement issued on Thursday, the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, condemned the circulation of the misinformation and warned the public against sharing unverified content online.
Police said there was no evidence to support allegations that traditional healers in Limpopo were purchasing people with dwarfism for R100 million.
“The South African Police Service in Limpopo wishes to categorically state that these claims are unfounded, misleading and irresponsible,” the statement reads.
Police warned that spreading false information could amount to a criminal offence and said the rumours were creating unnecessary fear among people living with dwarfism and their families.
Authorities further expressed concern that the viral claims could place vulnerable people at risk and damage community relations.
“The circulation of this misinformation must stop immediately, as not everything should be treated as a joke, particularly when it has the potential to endanger the lives and dignity of others,” police said.
The SAPS in Limpopo has since launched an investigation into the origin and spread of the allegations.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators or help identify those responsible for spreading the claims has been urged to contact the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection in Limpopo, Major General Venetia Masingi, or report the information through the Crime Stop hotline or at the nearest police station.
