Decision on Zulu bull killing today

ALEISHA TISSEN and SAPA

JOHANNESBURG - Today will reveal the decision made by the Pieter- maritzburg High Court on the controversial bare- handed bull ritual.

King Goodwill Zwelithini’s spokesman Nhlanhla Mtaka said yesterday that they were positive the court would rule in their favour.

“We view this court challenge as nothing but a religious persecution for the Zulu people and the Nguni tribe in general,” said Mtaka.

A decision into whether or not the ritual known as Ukweshwama will be suspended or not needs to be made in haste as it is scheduled to take place on December 5 in KwaZulu-Natal during the First Fruits Festival.

Animal Rights Africa (ARA) has challenged the legality of the ritual. It says that the manner in which the bull is brought down and killed is cruel and contravenes the Animal Protection Act.

Constitutional law expert Professor Pierre de Vos of the University of the Western Cape said it was difficult to judge the constitutional law arguments presented by the ARA as he had not seen the papers but added: “I would be rather surprised if any of these arguments fly.

“Seeing that our Constitution guarantees for every person the right to enjoy their culture, I would imagine the constitutional arguments, rather than favouring the ARA application, instead support the defenders of Ukweshwama,” he writes.

He adds, though, that despite the Act prohibiting any neglect, ill-treatment or torture of an animal, it does not accommodate the cultural practices associated with Ukweshwama, meaning that the Act could potentially be unconstitutional.

The ARA’s stance is, however, widely supported locally and internationally.

Sam Glover of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) in the UK said the ritual was a “sadistic spectacle that needs to end”.

“Young men prove nothing but the depth of their cruelty when they torture and kill a bull, pulling the terrified and struggling animal to the ground, ripping out his tongue, shoving dirt into his mouth, tearing his eyes, and mutilating his genitals.”