JOHANNESBURG — Animals such as cows, sheep and goats play different roles in the culture and religion of millions of South Africans.

Culturally, Black Africans — when they mourn or celebrate — slaughter either a cow, sheep or goat to connect families or to appease their ancestors. This culture, religion or ritual, often become evident during lobola or magadi negotiations (IsiZulu and Sesotho languages translation for bridal prize negotiation), weddings, funerals, along with traditional and religious ceremonies.

Some churches, especially Zionists and traditional ones, slaughter an animal to connect with God and their ancestors. Slaughtering is also used for cleansing ceremonies from bad luck after a tragedy or for good fortune. These practices are not only done by the illiterate, but the rich, educated, kings, presidents, politicians and religious leaders.

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However, there is often a clash (not to mention legal battles) between Black Africans and white citizens who are animal lovers and organizations who fight for their rights. They demand justice for animals by opening a criminal case with local authorities against individuals who may have slaughtered animals in a hurtful manner. Some of the cases are presided in court; some never go that far.

The argument has often been made is this one: “This is Africa and slaughtering of animals is part of the African culture.”

According to Statistics South Africa’s 2022 census, South Africa has a population of approximately 62 million. Of this population, 81,4% are Black Africans, a majority, but only 7.3% are white.

The country is multilingual, featuring 12 official languages: Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu. The 12th language is South African Sign Language (SASL) and it is used by the deaf and hard of hearing.

Last year, one of the country’s largest political parties, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), bought 100 cows for their 10th year celebration. Party leader, Julius Malema slaughtered one of the cows.

This caused the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to lodge criminal charges against Malema, alleging he had cruelly slaughtered the animal. In its recent media statement, the NSPCA said the case has remained in a state of limbo between the state and the police, hindered by insufficient progress.

In its explanation, the NSPCA said, Malema’s slaughtering of the cow was recorded in distressing footage that showed him behaving violently toward a fully conscious animal.

“The troubling video evidence depicts Mr. Malema using two small knives to deliver over 11 stabs and more than 60 twisting motions to the animal’s head, which constitutes unnecessary suffering and extreme cruelty. … The NSPCA remains unwavering in its commitment to advocate for animal welfare and is determined to assist the State in achieving justice for the affected animal,” NSPCA said in its statement.

In 2009, the late King Goodwill Zwelithini of the Zulus was taken to the Pietermaritzburg High Court by the Animal Rights Africa organization to oppose the slaughtering of a bull with bare hands during a ceremony called Ukweshwama. The ceremony is said to be a religious period before the Zulu people can harvest their new crops. The court ruled in favor of King Zwelithini, stating that bull-slaughtering was part of the Zulu tradition.

Two years earlier, the NSPCA’s provincial division, known as the SPCA, alleged that the former African National Congress Chief Whip, Toni Yengeni, had cruelly slaughtered a bull. Yengeni, who had just been released from prison after serving four months imprisonment for fraud, had to undergo a cleansing ceremony.  Therefore, it is understood he stabbed a bull with a spear as part of that ritual.

The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities’ (CRL Rights Commission) spokesman Mpiyakhe Mkholo said this ongoing debate has continued to be a talking point among many in South Africa.

He said practices and beliefs that make up an individual’s cultural identity will differ from person to person within a culture. Mkholo said many communities have expressed their culture through the slaughtering of animals, during celebrations, weddings, unveiling of tombstones and funerals.

Mkholo said, based on culture and religion, “would therefore be disingenuous of anybody to deny that our society is characterized by a diversity of cultures, traditions and beliefs.”

“That being the case,,” he added, “there will always be instances where these diverse cultural and traditional beliefs and practices create challenges within our society. The constitution of [South Africa] itself recognizes these rights and practices. It must be acknowledged that some of these cultural beliefs and practices are strongly held by those who subscribe to them and regard them as part of their lives. Those who do not subscribe to the others’ cultural beliefs should not trivialize them. What is required is reasonable accommodation of each other to ensure harmony and to achieve a united society.”

Vicky Abraham is an investigative journalist based in South Africa and has reported for the Mail & Guardian, City Press, Assist News, the Nation newspaper in Nigeria and Nation Media Group in Kenya.