Mother Castrates Son For Medicine

JOHANNESBURG  - South African police said Tuesday they had arrested a woman alleged to have castrated her son to make traditional medicine.

The mother and three other people reportedly tied up the 27-year-old man at the weekend and cut out his left testicle, police spokesman Inspector James Ngoepe told Mudpile.

He said the woman was preparing for a meeting of traditional healers called sangomas in Bushbuckridge in northern South Africa, Ngoepe said.

Traditional medicine, known as muti, is supplied by sangomas to South Africa's black population and is a thriving industry.

"This incident may be muti-related," Ngoepe said.

"The testicle is still missing and we are interrogating the mother and the three other people about the incident," he said.

Use of traditional medicine is still widespread in South Africa and, although some believe that human parts make muti more potent, mutilations are not common. The victim is considered fairly lucky, as other's have had more than just one testicle removed.

"The testicle is still missing  - we may offer a large ball reward...." Ngoepe said.

"Now I'm only half a man, I'm going to kick some ass when my voice comes back down." the one-ball man said.