Update on the Bull torture/Zulu ritual/South Africa.....

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By Sharika Regchand Pietermaritzburg BureauAttempts to reach an amicable agreement over the barehanded killing of a bull, as part of a Zulu ritual, have proved futile because Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini's representatives refused to co-operate. The matter will now be decided by a judge.A meeting to discuss the issue was held in Durban on Tuesday, shortly after Animal Rights Africa's application for an interdict to prevent the killing of the bull at the ukweshwama (first fruits) ceremony on December 5 was adjourned.The meeting was attended by conveners from the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, animal rights activists and Premier Zweli Mkhize's adviser.Continues Below ↓

 

However, the royal household, which facilitates the ritual, boycotted the meeting.Animal Rights Africa's Steve Smit said yesterday that failure of the mediation attempt meant that the court action would continue."Unfortunately, in spite of the committed efforts of the commission's CEO, the Rev Wesley Mabuza, and commissioner Pat Mkhize to convene a meeting that would be representative of all parties, only the premier was represented. "We agreed to the meeting in the hope of reaching some kind of amicable agreement that would result in the suspension of the bull-killing event at this year's Nongoma festival."Sadly, it appears that the king remains unwilling to enter into any dialogue or mediation and is clearly not prepared to support the efforts of the commission. The mediation attempt therefore failed," said Smit. He said the organisation remained committed to its belief that the manner in which the bull is killed during the festival is ethically indefensible and illegal. According to witness accounts, the bull dies a cruel and protracted death.IFP MPL Blessed Gwala accused Animal Rights Africa of being biased, saying it had not objected to "fish hooked out of the water by fishermen", which he said was equally painful.In a motion tabled before the KwaZulu-Natal legislature yesterday, Gwala said the organisation should have approached the king well in advance of the ceremony to discuss the ritual."It is 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," he said."The 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."The matter is set to be argued in court on Tuesday.sharika.regchand

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