Eastern Cape traditional leaders want the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to slaughter an animal to apologise for screening a documentary on circumcision, the Dispatch Online reported on Wednesday.
Traditional leaders found SABC1’s coming-of-age drama Umthunzi Wentaba insulting because it stripped the tradition of its secrecy and sacredness. They said by screening the documentary, which has since been suspended, the SABC provoked the wrath of the ancestors.
Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders chairperson Nkosi Ngangomhlaba Matanzima conveyed the leaders’ demand this week to an SABC delegation led by chief executive Dali Mpofu.
”According to African custom, animal blood needs to be spilled to appease the ancestors for the wrong that has been done to the culture,” Matanzima told the SABC group. ”You have not erred to us, but have [also] sinned to the culture and the ancestors.”
On Tuesday, Matanzima told the Dispatch: ”We are not penalising them, but we follow the custom that whenever a custom had been sinned, blood must be spilled, it’s simple like that. They can give the cattle to the king through the house [of leaders] and we will know what we are going to do with it.”
The public broadcaster admitted this week that some scenes in the documentary scenes were offensive, and apologised to traditional leaders in a meeting on Monday.
Matanzima said the leaders did not give any deadline for offering the cow. ”As soon as they are ready they would speak to us and together with them we will discuss how other ritual issues like cleansing are going to be done.” — Sapa