NAKED BOY (13) CAUGHT PERFORMING KUCHELA RITUAL

LOBAMBA – At 1am in the morning, a boy aged 13 years is supposed to be tucked under his blankets, asleep.
But, this was not the case for a boy around Mahlanya.

Instead, the teenager was found performing kuchela, a ritual which is sometimes associated with witchcraft practices, especially when it is performed by a person in a home that is not his or hers. As a result, the matter is being investigated by the police, as per confirmation by Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni.

The ritual involves sprinkling a concoction, with the belief that it could help one achieve a certain purpose. Though it is associated with witchcraft, culturally, it is also sometimes used by some emaSwati as a way of warding off bad luck at their homesteads. Mahlanya is an area near Malkerns and is also one of the places mentioned during the trial of David Simelane, one of world’s worst serial killers.

It is near this area that Simelane is alleged to have picked up his victims, whose bodies were found scattered around nearby forests. The teenager was allegedly found performing the ritual at some homesteads near Mahlanya while carrying a bucket and what seemed like a cup. He is said to have been using a cup to sprinkle the substance at the homesteads that he had gone to, before he was nabbed.

Inspection

It is alleged that while he was performing the ritual, some male community members who were returning from imbibing alcoholic beverages nearby, found him and wondered what he was doing. Upon inspection, the men were shocked to discover that the boy was naked, and at the same time performing rituals. This publication gathered that the boy is doing Grade V at one of the schools in the area.

The men, who are said to have sobered up after discovering the teenager, are said to have been furious when they discovered that he was sprinkling some substance at the homestead situated near a spaza shop. They then allegedly apprehended the boy and questioned him about what he was doing, to which he responded that he had been sent to perform kuchela by his grandfather.

The boy alleged that performing such a practice was not new to him as he had done so before. He alleged that whenever he refused to perform the acts, he was often whipped or tortured. He is said to have shown some scars to prove that he was assaulted.

Tortured

It was gathered that in one of the previous incidents, the boy was tortured and had his hands burnt. The boy is said to have told the men that his grandfather woke him up and asked him to perform the ritual and sprinkle the substances at the nearby homesteads. He is said to have sprinkled the substance at about three homesteads before he was nabbed. When asked why he had done it, the boy alleged that his grandfather told him to do it because he was struggling.

He said since his grandfather was building a house, he noticed that the construction had remained stagnant and became worried that other neighbours were building their houses faster than him.

Progressing

“Asiphumelele ngani tsine?” the grandfather is alleged to have asked the boy, which means, “Why are we not progressing like the others?”. The teenager said it was after his grandfather posed the question that he then sent him to sprinkle the substance, but he ended up being caught by some residents. It was gathered that when the men took the boy to his grandfather, they demanded to know why he had been sent to perform the acts.

However, the grandfather is alleged to have disputed the boy’s allegations, stating that he had not sent him. The response by the boy’s grandfather is said to have angered the community members who allegedly threatened to take action. It is alleged that after the incident, the boy’s grandfather then advised some of the people at his homestead, on which he is constructing a house not to feed him.

Forced

It is alleged that after this incident, the boy was also forced to flee from the homestead and sought refuge at a nearby homestead. The matter is said to have been reported to the local umphakatsi around Mahlanya. An attempt was made to call the area’s indvuna but he had not answered the cellphone when called on Thursday and also yesterday.

The community members also wondered why the umphakatsi was not taking any action on the matter. They also questioned why the boy’s grandfather was not behind bars. However, it was gathered that the said grandfather has moved to another area, as the community is furious about the alleged incident. It was gathered that the matter was expected to be deliberated on by the umphakatsi.

Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the alleged incident but said the police were still investigating.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: