Senzo Meyiwa’s family held a private cleansing ceremony at the slain soccer star’s home in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, yesterday.
It’s been almost two months since the Bafana captain was shot dead at the Vosloorus family home of his partner, Kelly Khumalo.
City Press visited Meyiwa’s home on Friday night and saw signs of little activity. A neighbour confirmed the ceremony was a private affair for immediate family members.
Two family friends, who asked not to be named, confirmed that the ceremony was being held. Repeated attempts to contact the Meyiwa family spokesperson, Jabulile Buthelezi, were unsuccessful.
Nobongile Kakayo, a traditional healer in Umlazi, said only immediate family members were allowed to attend a cleansing ceremony of this nature.
Kakayo told City Press it was important that the Meyiwas did the cleansing ceremony to get rid of bad luck.
“There’s a belief that if they don’t do the ritual, every family member will die from a weapon by being stabbed or shot, like Senzo,” said Kakayo.
Kakayo outlined a step-by-step guide to the cleansing ceremony, which is conducted in accordance with Zulu culture.
»?The family must buy two sheep for the cleansing ceremony and the ritual must be held in the early hours of the morning.
»?The sheep must be slaughtered outside the gate: one for the deceased’s wife – in this case, Senzo’s widow, Mandisa – and the second for the whole family. The family should not eat the meat.
»?The gall bladder from the slaughtered sheep and waste material from its stomach is taken to and placed in the river where the ceremony is held. Everyone apart from the deceased’s wife is cleansed in this water. She is cleansed in different water.
»?Once the cleansing is done, the widow leaves her clothes on the river bank or burns them and wears new clothes bought by her husband’s family.
