'I was not drunk' says Prophet Ritha after crash

Controversial religious leader Prophet Innocent Muritho has lashed out at people spreading rumours on social media that he was intoxicated when he was involved in a head-on collision with a police vehicle on Saturday.

The 36-year-old clergyman, whose real name is Phathutshedzo Innocent Sikhubu, is lucky to have escaped death. He was traveling along the R524 road at about 18:00 when the accident happened near Tshisahulu. Circumstances surrounding the accident are sketchy, but those at the scene allege that the prophet’s Mercedes Benz had left its lane and crashed head-on with a police van.

Following the accident, widespread malicious rumours and gossip started doing the rounds. Some of these allegations stated that the prophet looked heavily intoxicated and that he was in the company of a 19-year-old female companion. Another allegation was that he had fled the scene.

Sikhubu was lucky to escape with minor injuries. He was taken to a clinic in Thohoyandou for treatment and observation. The lady had more serious injuries and was taken to Tshilidzini hospital where she was still being treated on Monday.

The police van was on its way to the Levubu Police Station. The three injured police officers were also taken to Tshilidzini hospital. They were later transferred to a hospital in Polokwane, due to the seriousness of their injuries.

Vhembe SAPS spokesperson W/O Dathi confirmed the accident. He said that when the police had arrived at the scene, the injured had already been taken away. Dathi said that both vehicles had been towed to the SAPS Sibasa Pounding Unit for safekeeping and further investigations. “A case of reckless and negligent driving has been opened and will be finalised and taken to the public prosecutor for a decision,” he said.

The accident happened barely a month after Prophet Ritha, as Sikhubu is affectionately called, made a plea on his Facebook page for the community to pray for the Thohoyandou Police Station. At the time, he claimed he had had a premonition that something bad was about to happen at the police station.

When contacted on Tuesday, Prophet Muritho was clearly upset about the rumours surrounding the accident. “All that is being said is concocted hogwash. How could I run away from the scene with injuries? I was taken away to the hospital like any other casualty,” he said.

He also provided clarity as to why he was in the company of a 19-year-old woman. “I attended a funeral at Ndondola near Duthuni, and the woman in question, who was also at the funeral, asked for a lift. The girl is not even known to me,” he said.

Prophet Muritho was also very affronted by suggestions that he had been intoxicated. “That I was drunk and that there was liquor in my car is news to me. I think it would make sense if there were pictures to back up those claims. I do not even drink alcohol, for that matter,” he said. He also appealed to people to stop spreading wrong information.

But Muritho is no stranger to controversy. In 2021, the businessman and founder of the Faith of Talitha Koum Ministry in Sibasa raised eyebrows when he posted a series of compromising videos on social media while seemingly intoxicated. In the videos, he was seen boasting about his sexual escapades. The pastor was widely condemned by his church members and the public. Bowing to the pressure on him, he publicly apologised to his congregation and the community for his actions.

In August last year, he made the headlines again, but this time for an altogether different reason. The flamboyant pastor threw a luxurious and costly birthday party for his dog, Jackie, who turned seven. The party took place at his church in Sibasa, where a cow was slaughtered to cater for the many guests who filled the church. The guests were requested to give cash, instead of presents, to the dog.

Date:12 April 2024

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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