PUDEMO, SWAYOCO TOYI-TOYI WITH BAPHATSE’S COFFIN

KABHUDLA – The funeral of political activist Baphatse George Dhladhla left the KaBhudla Royal Kraal and those present at the burial site astounded yesterday morning.

It was not the death of the 25-year-old member of the proscribed Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), the youth league of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), that shocked many, but the behaviour of his comrades.

In the presence of PUDEMO president Mlungisi Makhanya, his predecessor Mario Masuku, Secretary General Wandile Dludlu, SWAYOCO ex-presidents Maxwell Dlamini and Mphandlana Shongwe, the political activists literally hijacked the proceedings.
Although they were not included in the programme, Makhanya managed to address the mourners inside the tent in the morning just before Baphatse’s body was taken to the graveside a few metres away.

The driver of the hearse that had intended to transport the body to the burial site was told not to bother himself as the comrades offered to carry the coffin. Clad in t-shirts emblazoned with the deceased’s photo and the words ‘PUDEMO & SWAYOCO salute CDE Baphatse Dhladhla’, the political activists soon burst into struggle songs as they took hold of the coffin.

They appeared to be energised as they moved with the coffin and soon abandoned the normal practice of carrying it between knee and waist length but lifted it shoulder high.

Not only that, but the political activists began to engage in the infamous toyi-toyi dance with the coffin on their shoulders. Others toyi-toyied at the front as they led their comrades towards the graveside with the coffin held up high. They would at times place the coffin on the ground and toyi-toyi, lift it up and move towards the graveside. Once they got to the graveside, they continued to sing and dance, rendering the Methodist Church choir and church members present mere spectators.

When the coffin was about to be lowered, PUDEMO’s Penuel Malinga announced to his comrades which song would be sung but the Dhladhla family felt enough was enough.

They told the pastor in charge of proceedings to tell the political activists to respect the family and that a gospel hymn be sung when lowering the coffin. Though with murmurs, the political activists kept quiet and allowed the church choir and members to take over. But as soon as the coffin had been lowered, they burst into song and toyi-toyi again, disregarding the gospel hymns being sung.

They danced in circles, occasionally lifting their clenched fists and sent dust sky high as they did so. When time for closing speeches came, the KaBhudla royal kraal headman, who identified himself as babe Gwebu, could not hide his disapproval of the political activists’ conduct.

“On behalf of the royal kraal, I would like to express our utter shock at what we saw here today. It is the first time for us to see such behaviour in this area. We had known Baphatse to be a well-behaved young man but today we got to learn that he was involved in other things. I know that his family did not know this because children tend to involve themselves in things that families are not aware of,” he said as the political activists began to jeer.

“Just keep quiet!” he admonished them, and continued: “We are known for respect in this area and we demand the same from everyone. It would have been better if Baphatse had once visited KaBhudla with you and saw you running around on the roads then maybe we would have anticipated such behaviour. As it is we are shocked and we condemn your behaviour in the strongest possible manner. We are disappointed but, again, I don’t blame the Dhladhla family. As you go back to your homes, you should know that the royal kraal does not condone such behaviour, in fact we frown upon it.”

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: