IFP enters ritual bull killing fray

By Bheki Mbanjwa

The IFP has entered the fray regarding the bare-handed bull-killing ritual that forms part of the Zulu first fruits ceremony known as umkhosi wokweshwama.

The party yesterday lambasted animal rights activists who are trying to stop the ritual, saying those organisations and individuals had failed to show due respect to Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini in their handling of the situation.

"We want to say to all those who want to belittle the Zulus that we will not be intimidated by them but we are willing to confront them anywhere," said IFP MPL Blessed Gwala, tabling a motion at the provincial legislature yesterday.

Gwala said the IFP supported the Zulu royal household's refusal to attend Tuesday's meeting where the ritual was to be discussed with Animal Rights Africa.

The meeting was convened by the commission for the protection of rights of cultural, religious and linguistic communities.

The commission wanted to mediate between the Zulu monarch and Animal Rights Africa, the organisation which earlier this week took its battle to court.

This week the group approached the Pietermaritzburg High Court seeking an interdict to restrain the king from causing or permitting a bull to be slaughtered, or in any way ill-treated, at the ceremony, which is planned for December 5 at the Nyokeni palace in Nongoma.

The application joins Zwelithini and four other respondents: the MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the MEC for Local Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs, the minister of police and the premier.

The application also seeks to direct Zwelithini to notify the police of the date, time and venue at which the festival is to be held, and to order the minister of police to ensure that members of the SAPS are present at the festival to ensure compliance with the interdict.

The respondents have until December 1 to file responding affidavits.

Gwala added: "The whole approach of these so-called activists in our view is intended to disdainfully depict His Majesty and the Zulu nation as people who are still trapped in darkness.

"If they resort to being confrontational instead of approaching the issue through proper channels and observing protocol then we are ready to meet them at their game."

The IFP said it found it strange that the group "did not approach the king respectfully" long before the season of the ceremony.

"The body has never raised a voice of protest against the painful manner in which fish are almost daily hooked out of the water by fishermen, which according to the IFP is painful and torturous.

"It is also strange that the same organisation has never raised a voice against a similar Spanish practice where they engage in a game of teasing a bull until it dies," Gwala said, referring to the running of the bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain.

• This article was originally published on page 2 of The Daily News on November 26, 2009