By Celani Sikhakhane
- Three people drowned during a sangoma ritual in a KwaZulu-Natal river despite families offering animals to the spirits.
- The families believe the ancestors were unhappy about the timing of the ritual which led to the tragic deaths.
Three families tried to make peace with the river spirits after a sangoma, her trainee, and her assistant drowned during a ritual in KwaZulu-Natal.
The families offered a cow, a goat, and a chicken to the Ngwangwane River in Mzimkhulu, hoping it would release the bodies of Boniwe Mzamani, 30, her trainee Sisama Bhunge, 20, and her assistant Siphelele Dlamini, 37.
Boniwe’s father, Zukisa Mzamane, told Scrolla.Africa that the families believe the ancestors were not happy about the Sunday morning ritual.
“We tried to put a cow in the river so that whatever took them could focus on a cow and release them. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. We then put a goat and a chicken, but it was clear that the man of the water was no longer interested in those animals.
“The body of my daughter had already been out of the water, while that of Dlamini and Bhunge was still under the water till Monday,” said Mzamane.
He said that while his daughter had done many river rituals before, the spirits were against them entering the water that day.
The bodies of Dlamini and Bhunge were found on Monday in another part of the river.
Mzamane said that after the river ritual, Bhunge was meant to complete her training with a final cleansing ceremony at the ocean.
Dlamini’s father, Sabelo, said they were shocked but had accepted their son’s death.
Dlamini and Mzamani will be buried on Saturday in Mzimkhulu.
Harry Gwala District Municipality Mayor Zamo Nxumalo and Cooperative Governance MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi sent their condolences. They also warned people about entering rivers during the heavy rains that are filling dams and rivers.
Pictured above: Community and family members were patiently waiting for the sangoma and her trainee and the assistant to be rescued after they drowned and died during the rituals at Ngwangweni River in Mzimkhulu.
Source: Supplied
