The Yengeni bull debate

Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has invited the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to attend a ceremony at his Eastern Cape rural home where a bull will be slaughtered as part of the proceedings.

Addressing a ceremony to commemorate King Mampuru of the Bapedi nation and King Nyabela of amaNdebele in Limpopo over the weekend (Saturday) Minister Mdladlana said it is outrageous that despite the present political order in the country, traditions of African people were still being questioned and looked down upon.

Minister Mdladlana cited the recent furore whereby the animal rights lobby group berated former African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Tony Yengeni for having slaughtered a bull during a cleansing ceremony following his imprisonment.

"I invite the SPCA to join us as we will be slaughtering a bull without euthanising it. We'll ask them to come into the kraal to share in the feast. We want the bull to bellow and then we'll sing the praises of our ancestors," he said.

The Minister chided traditional leaders for keeping quiet while the SPCA-Yengeni row played out, saying that as custodians of their nation's cultures and customs, they should have stood up and be heard.

He said the likes of Kings Mampuru and Nyabela died in wars against colonialists so that the coming generations could be able to lead their lives as liberated societies.

"The SPCA should know clearly that we will continue to slaughter the cows. A farmer killed a black child recently and claimed he mistook him for a dog. What right did that farmer have to kill a dog let alone that boy? Where is the SPCA in that story?

"What the hell is this magistrate doing by agreeing with the farmer that the child looked like a dog? The fact is a black child has been killed."

"Clearly the farmer has more rights than Tony Yengeni. He can kill a dog. But a black man can't kill a cow. I want to assure our detractors that we will continue to practise our traditions and follow our culture," Minister Mdladlana said.