Members of the Somagwaza Institute have raised concerns about worshippers who conduct their services at the initiation site near the Joe Gqabi railway station.
The Institute – the custodian of initiations – is accusing the congregants of compromising the significance of the area.
Traditional surgeon and chair of the institute Sikelela Zokufa described the attitude of the congregants as disturbing. He said they have engaged the church leaders and asked them to find an alternative site but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
“We are not comfortable with their presence at the initiation site as we don’t know what they are actually doing there,” said Zokufa, claiming that the churches at the site are foreign owned. However, he dispelled any suggestions of xenophobia.
Zokufa claimed that the church members are “running around” with them and whenever they chase them away from one area they move to another spot within the initiation site.
“Our concern is the danger to our initiates,” he said.
He added that some of the churches use muthi during their services.
“In one instance, we found another group of church members digging a big hole at the site. When we approached them asking what was the hole for they responded by saying they are going to put muthi there,” he said, adding that the hole is still open.
Zokufa stated that the sad part is they cannot do as they please in that land because it doesn’t belong to them.
“The land belongs to Eskom, but we have an agreement with the company to utilise that portion. We can’t fence the area on our own, only Eskom can take that initiative. But we would like it to be fenced so that it can have access control,” he stated.
When City Vision tried to get a comment from one of the church groups that were at the site they refused to speak to the media.
