Rituals banned along Black Mbuluzi River

JUBUKWENI – If you contemplate performing rituals along the Black Mbuluzi River, you can forget it because the area’s Royal Kraal has tightened its stance to curb ‘mysteries’.

The royal kraal warned that people should seek permission from the area’s authorities [the Umphakatsi] if they want to baptise their Christians and the request could be accepted or turned down.

In a case where the request has been granted, the royal kraal said it may send community police to witness the ‘ritual’ of the person who had been granted the permission to go ahead with their practice.

The tight stance was unanimously adopted by residents of the area after the royal kraal’s Headman Tulu-jane Sikhondze announced it.
“We have noted with concern the escalating cases of mysteries in the area. We have not publicly made our comments regarding this matter. We have been consulting, trying to figure out the culprits behind this,” Sikhondze said.

He said: “You will agree with me. Everywhere a resident of this area goes, they are sardonically referred to as ‘goat or chicken.” The goat and the chicken were found on different occasions; both animals were handed over to the Swaziland Animal Welfare Society (SAWS).
During yesterday’s meeting, the area’s Headman continued: “Though we are not sure, we have a feeling that people from other areas are behind this because of the proximity of the river coupled with African’s beliefs on performing rituals in rivers with waves (emagagasi).”

He recounted how the area’s good name had been tarnished over the years; beginning from incidents where dead bodies were found dumped in the area on several occasions.

Sikhondze urged the residents to still come forward if they suspect anyone cornering the goat and the chicken. “Even after this meeting in years to come, if you happen to discover the culprit please tell us so that they could be called to explain in your midst what they intended to do?” he said.
In his brief remarks, Chief Mbhungu Mabuza echoed the words of the Headman. “From today henceforth each and everyone of you is now a policeman. You report anyone you see along the river. It is not that we don’t want people to use the river, but it’s because the river is drawing bad things,” he said.

He said it was painful that the area’s reputation has been tarnished, noting that it seemed like people easily identified Jubukweni residents and make fun of them because of the things that have happened in the area.

He said a particular forest next to where most of the rituals were performed would be destroyed.
The Chief asked the residents to pray for the area so that bad things could stop happening there.

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