Zuma attends ukweshwama

2009-12-05 20:31

Noluthando Mkhize

Durban - President Jacob Zuma attended the controversial bull killing known as ukweshwama held at Nongoma on Saturday.

Zuma was seen inside the kraal where the bull was going to be killed. He did not give a speech.

King Goodwill Zwelethini gave a speech and said no nation was to dictate the way the Zulus practised their culture.

"Other nations must not dictate to our culture," said Zwelethini.

Animal Rights Africa took the Zulu King and Kwa-Zulu natal premier Zweli Mkhize to court on the ritual known as ukweshwama where a bull is killed with bare hands.

The King apologised that he did not attend the court case in the Pietermaritzburg High Court as he was fasting.

He said he was aware that there were people who were attending the ritual to take pictures and "fabricate" them.

Zwelenthini said the Zulu people should be proud of their culture.

"A nation that is proud of their culture has an opportunity to go far," he said, adding that the Zulu Nation was a nation that loved animals.

"We love animals so much we even give them names because they are a part of our lives. Nobody can educate the Zulu Nation on how they should love their animals," he said.

Zwelethini thanked the premier for this support during the court case, warning that nations should not look down on other cultures, the way they dress, the way they treat animals and anything else that the nation believes in.

He announced he was going to revive circumcision within the Zulu nation and that doctors would be involved in the ritual.

Journalists were chased away when the ukweshwama festival was about to start.

- SAPA