Meet South Africa’s Prophet of Doom…Literally · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Image shared widely on social media. This one was shared by @Mission316Show.
A self-proclaimed prophet, Lethebo Rabalago, has shocked many South Africans after news broke out that he uses Doom, a popular insecticide in the country, to heal. He sprays the deadly chemical on different parts of the body of his church members including faces.
Announcing the “healing” powers of Doom, Rabalago wrote on his Facebook page:
By my name, you shall drive out demons.
By my name, you shall pick up snakes. Anything you touch, recieves favour because of the annointing upon you. Doom is just a name, but when you speak to it to become a healing product, it does. People get healed and delivered through doom. Its not by might nor by power, but by the HolySpirit. We give God the glory!!
The company behind the insecticide has condemned Rabalago and says it is in the process of contacting him to warn him about dangers of using Doom insect poison onto people's faces.
The Internet has reacted with anger, shock and funny memes using the hashtag #ProphetOfDoom.
A Twitter user using the name ‘Sound Surgeon’ joked:
#ProphetOfDoom
Breaking news: Doom prices have shot up??? pic.twitter.com/mpd3U9HDBG
— ?Sound Surgeon? (@speaks_beats) November 22, 2016
Iloveza shared this picture showing empty shelves of Doom in a supermarket:
Business is good? #Doom #DoomProphet #ProphetofDoom #iloveza❤️?? pic.twitter.com/wzEebVzsvS
— iloveza (@ilovezacom) November 23, 2016
Mphuma mentioned other strange acts performed by a growing number of self-proclaimed prophets in South Africa:
Just when you said you read it enough, petrol, grass, snakes Pastors etc.. now it's happening again. #ProphetOfDoom world coming to an end.
— Mphuma Tshililo (@mphuma27) November 21, 2016
Bizzare “prophetic” acts by South African preachers in recent years have included eating grass, snakes and drinking petrol, which supposedly becomes pineapple juice after prayer.
Considering the latest “miracle”, Ditjhaba said South Africa needs a timeout:
After this, I think we need a timeout as a country. This is too much and the #prophetofdoom is the last straw. pic.twitter.com/cG4edPGQeH
— Ditjhaba Selemela (@DitjhabaS) November 21, 2016
@shandu009 tweeted a photo of a man trying to increase his wealth at an ATM machine following the preacher's advice:
#prophetOfDoom pic.twitter.com/BURImBD1MX
— #AlooterContinua✊ (@shandu009) November 24, 2016
Another Twitter user said:
Doom is the answer brothers and sisters lets bow our heads and sPray. #ProphetOfDoom
— Eng TKN (@telferkndumba) November 24, 2016
Vhoni joked:
Who needs gym when there's doom(Raid)? ?????????????#Prophetofdoom #TrendingSA pic.twitter.com/HTMl69TWRO
— SC&IG @vhoni_henny (@vhoni_henny) November 23, 2016
A Zimbabwean man posted the following photo suggesting that Zimbabwean president needs the special “Doom healing”:
I'll jus leave this here… #prophetofdoom pic.twitter.com/aQqtgDumgt
— Peter Tavaruva (@tavaruva_peter) November 24, 2016
Qamatha posted a photo of a mini bus with a Doom advert suggesting that it belongs to the church :
#ProphetOfDoom just bought a new minibus for congregation. pic.twitter.com/a50YmIwxks
— QAMATHA (@SaAutonomy) November 23, 2016
The video below shows the prophet in action:
South African Internet entrepreneur Peter Mansfield suggested:
LOCK HIM UP, and send congregants for psychiatric examination to determine why they stupid enough to follow him #ProphetOfDoom https://t.co/MutzfJtWSJ
— Peter Mansfield (@Peterman43) November 21, 2016
Another Twitter user rephrased the Bible verse in the book of John 3:16. The verse reads: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”:
does one see this doom coming or is it a surprise… #doom, #Doompastor, #ProphetofDoom pic.twitter.com/YE6ujSR1Wu
— nev.b (@_nevb) 21 de noviembre de 2016
Celeste thought the spraying of the harmful chemical on congregants amounted to attempted murder:
The #ProphetofDoom should be arrested for attempted murder. #Doom is used to kill so surely the #Hawks or #NPA can whip up a charge.
— Celeste Tema (@celeste_tema) November 21, 2016
Using the photo of the Ghanaian Internet sensation, Jake Amo, Barry Roux wrote:
Dear #ProphetOfDoom
Sorry for the bad handwriting, am writing to ask if Doom can cure TB Joshua. #DoomProphet
Sincerely Your Boy pic.twitter.com/XYZwFNCfh8
— IG:AdvBarryRoux (@Barry_Roux) November 22, 2016
TB Joshua is a popular Nigeria preacher who is known for controversial prophecies. During the US elections he predicted that Hillary Clinton would win the election.
Kalabash Media posted this photo:
Running out of fuel?? …#DoomELA #ProphetOfDoom #DoomProphet pic.twitter.com/RpsMiyCW2i
— Kalabash Media (@KalabashMedia) November 22, 2016
Rabalago has claimed that with his spiritual powers it is possible to make a phone call without a sim card or drive a car without fuel.
Finally, need a bottle of healing Doom?:
Miracle spray for sale, Contact #ProphetOfDoom prophet Lethebo Rabalago of Kingdom of Doom Church for more details.. pic.twitter.com/mNNJShQAR2
— IG:AdvBarryRoux (@Barry_Roux) November 24, 2016