Initiation schools are against the religion of the Dutch Reformed Church and, according to this religion, it would be sinful behaviour and “in breach of the commandments of the Almighty God” to consent to such practices. These are some of the reasons stated by Bapsfontein farmer Jacob Visagie, for refusing permission to a family living on his farm to host an initiation school on his property.

The Ndala family, who have been living on the farm for some time, intend taking Visagie to the Randfontein Land Claims Court on Monday regarding his refusal to allow them to host the traditional ceremony on the farm. The family stated in court documents that the school was due to commence on May 20 and run until August 27. They said the four boys living on the farm were due to partake this year in the Ndebele tradition.

Although the initial ceremony will begin on another farm where the chief resides and where about 3 000 people were expected, the plan was that the Ndala family and the four boys would return to Visagie’s farm afterwards, where the ceremony could be completed within the close family circle. The Ndala family said this was for various reasons, including the need to ensure that the proceedings were conducted under safe and hygienic conditions. But farmer Visagie expressed his reservations about the safety and hygiene aspects of the ceremony, as well as the religious aspects of it. He refused permission to the family on the grounds that it was against his religion.

“We are Christians and members of the Dutch Reformed Church. The paying of homage to spirits of the dead is strongly against our religion, as is the marking of the body of a person for spiritual purposes.”

Visagie’s father-in-law, Johannes Jansen Van Vuuren, a dominie of his Church in Heilbron-South, said in a filed statement: “For Christians to allow an African school of initiation on their farm would be very difficult and would put a burden on their consciences, because the Bible explicitly forbids the practices which are done at such schools.”

In referring to some of these practices, namely the “worshipping of ancestor spirits and the practices of sangomas”, he quoted extensively from various Bible verses. In conclusion to his statement, he said: “In African initiation schools, the young people are taught to worship the spirits of their dead ancestors, and also how to make contact with them and make use of the services of sangomas. These youngsters are encouraged to follow a course to become a sangoma. The ancestor spirits are also utilised to make them strong for their lives to come.”

He said in light of this, Christians should not allow such practices on their property. Meanwhile, Visagie has voiced several other concerns regarding the school, such as potential risks to the health of the young boys concerned.

“We cannot consent to activities which may lead to deadly infections… or to activities which may lead to initiates losing their reproductive organs and the spreading of diseases like HIV and Aids.”

Visagie said no indication was given that the four young men in question would be protected against mutilation, and added that he could not allow uncontrolled circumcisions on his farm. He said his only personal experience in the past with an initiation school was not a pleasant one – some of his workers had been attacked by participants, which in turn had disrupted his farming activities.

As part of his objection, Visagie included the terms of reference by the SA Human Rights Commission’s public hearings into initiation schools, where problems featuring during this ceremony were discussed.

Visagie said that while he respected the traditional rights of the Ndala family, he denied that those rights included that he had to host the school on his farm.

source: Sunday Independent

* This article was originally published on page 1 of The Pretoria News on May 14, 2009

Zulu shaman, or sanusi, Credo Mutwa, has written a poem to express his thoughts on what he sees as the true nature of Barack Obama and the agenda for Africa and the world that he represents. This poem was sent to me by email and I published it to great criticism.  Today, Wednesday, 25 February 2009, I spoke to him personally on the telephone. He corrected one word, originally written as “deceive” and now changed to “receive.” According to him Barack means blessed one. And he also stated this poem is incomplete. I maintain that it is valid to have published this poem on this blog to raise a discussion. Accordging to Credo Mutwa in his visions people are plotting to kill Obama. These rumours are not unfounded because they have been reported widely in other sources.

Here is the poem…

An actor walks upon the floodlit stage of lifewearing a mask of an angel beneath a demon’s gown.

Pretence smiles upon the crowded hall of life holding out hope as bright as it is false.

Son of a woman in whose veins flows the blood of ancient Ireland and dark Africa’s plains.

You are Obama, nick-named the standing king You are Barack, oh, son born to receive

The suffering hoards of Africa look up to you, See a black saviour where nought but a Judas strides.

An entrapper of nations, bringer of dismal war Behind the robes and the nylon wings of hope

Oh, may those who look upon you, see you as you are. May those who hope in you behold you as you be

A prince deceitful to bring down Africa’s shrines

A siren who leads Africa’s ships onto rocks of obliteration.

Your rule my lord will not be one of peace

Your reign my king will not be one of smiles

Even as we speak in caves both dark and dank Enraged fanatics plot your dark demise

They will put around your head a bloodwet martyr’s crown.

Oh black Kennedy following the one before May God forgive thee and thy fiery spouse

As you walk in silence from the stage of life Barack Obama, blessed son, Oh standing king.

Vusamazulu Mutwa

Black Lion is… Agu Bu Oji in Igbo, Simba nyeusi in Swahili, the name of a hospital in Addis Adaba the capital of Ethiopia.

source: The BN Village

by Alfred Moselakgomo

A student sangoma who wears a traditional cloth to work as part of his training has been forced to choose between his calling and his job by his employers. Now Letjatji Mothoa of Kameelrivier near Vaalbank, Mpumalanga, has approached the equality court alleging unfair treatment.

Mothoa told Sowetan that his bosses told him he would have to take off his traditional sangoma trainee garb or face the axe. He is a driver for Capacity, which is contracted to Tshwane municipality to collect rubbish in the city.

“Everybody at work knows that I am a student sangoma and doesn’t have a problem with me wearing motjeka (traditional cloth).

“I was surprised when our site manager, Connie Smith, called me to the office and told me that municipal officials were not comfortable with me coming to work wearing it,” he said. Mothoa said he tried in vain to convince his employers that he was abiding by the requirements of his calling to wear the cloth.

“They told me that I should either take it off or stay at home despite assuring them that my wearing this cloth would not in any way affect my efficiency at work,” Mothoa said. He has been working at the firm since 2007 but was forced to go for training as a sangoma in October last year after a series of “spiritual upheavals”.

Attempts to get comment from Smith drew a blank. Johannes Maepa, an administrator at the Pretoria equality court, confirmed yesterday that they had received a complaint from Mothoa.

source: Sowetan newspaper

To all South African Family and Friends of Africa! This posting is a little late but I’m publishing this information anyway to raise awareness on this issue…Ramon Thomas, webmaster

I do not usually send out petitions but in this case I am sure you will forgive the intrusion:

Mpumalanga are in the process of drafting a Witchcraft suppression bill which will make the practice or admission of witchcraft a criminal act in Mpumalanga !!- you might think it is not your province or not your problem! BUT if Mpumalanga do it, they open the doorway for other provinces to do the same! They also open the doors for innocent people to be incriminated and even killed by mass trial/mobs.

This affects ALL traditional Crafts and most Importantly the SANGOMA’S.

What you can do to help:

The deadline for objections is 13 July so please do not delay. We need all Pagans or persons practising Traditional Crafts (Sangomas) OR who identify themselves as ‘Witches’ (or even those who don’t) to lodge PERSONAL objections against the bill. No group petitions PLEASE. We want a large quantity of individual mail being submitted against the drafting of the bill!

This Bill is in direct contravention with the South African Constitution and Bill of Rights , which allow religious freedom to ALL!!

We need to get as many objections as possible so please take the time to send a mail and also pass this along to all Africans, Traditional healers, Pagans and Witch-friendly folk.

To make it easy for you – BELOW are address details and a template and email address for submission of your Objection (just add your personal details and tweak the wording if you like)

Witches are NOT what the story books claim them to be! Nor are they Christian Hating or evil people! DO the right thing!

SAVE YOUR TRADITIONAL HEALERS! SAVE YOUR ANCESTRAL RIGHTS! STAND UP AND DEFEND YOUR AFRICAN AND SPIRITUAL HERITAGE!

Warm Blessings
Jacqui

On Behalf of NDUMA (Sangoma and Traditional healer)
http://www.myspace.com/sangomaliz

_____________________________________

Send your mail to : bbongo@mpg.gov.za

Subject: Witchcraft Suppression Act – OBJECTION

E-mail content :

Office of the Premier
Mpumalanga Provincial Government

For attention: Advocates B. Thomas and H.M. Mbatha and L. Pretorius

With reference to: P.15/5/15 Comment as an Interested and Affected Party: Mpumalanga Witchcraft Suppression Bill 2007.

I, INSERT NAME HERE, hereby formally object to the proposed Witchcraft Suppression Bill on the following grounds:

1. Any bill that provides for the suppression of Witchcraft is in direct contravention with the South African Constitution and Bill of rights (which allow religious freedom to all)

2. The proposed bill will criminalise members of a recognised and established religious minority

3. It denies the members of this minority religious community freedom of religion and belief

4. The bill will create a threat to the dignity, and well being and safety of Witch/Wiccan religious communities throughout South Africa

5. The bill will misrepresent a Witches worldview and belief system and will create discrimination and division within communities

I respectfully request that this bill is not passed with the current wording – and that alternate solutions are found to deal with the issues at hand.

Regards

INSERT NAME
aka INSERT : Pagan / Traditional healer Name
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
ADDRESS (POSTAL IS FINE):