Naked boy performing kuchela: Grandfather fined 5 cattle
MAHLANYA – The grandfather of a boy who was found performing kuchela has been fined five cattle. This was after their grandson was found performing kuchela and he alleged that he had been sent by his grandfather.
Traditionally, kuchela is a ritual whereby one sprinkles a substance in form of a liquid concoction. The ritual can be done for good or for bad. Traditionally, a homeowner could perform kuchela under the belief that doing so could be ridding his premises of bad luck. However, it is also believed that the same ritual could be performed to cause harm.
According to a story that was published last Saturday, a 13-yearold boy was caught performing kuchela at some homesteads near Mahlanya under Lobamba Lomdzala Inkhundla.
It was reported that the boy, *Joko was allegedly sent to perform the ritual by his grandfather. Joko is said to have been woken up in the night about two weeks ago and allegedly ordered to perform the ritual at some homesteads nearby. According to the young boy, his grandfather had allegedly ordered him to perform the ritual after expressing concern that their family was not progressing, yet their neighbours An arrow showing the location of Mahlanya on the map of Eswatini. were building houses while the construction of their house was stationary.
It is alleged that Joko was then given a five-litre bucket with some concoction and also a cup to use for sprinkling the liquid substance. It is alleged that he had done this at two homesteads on the night and that it was not the first time he had been sent to perform the ritual, which the community later viewed as witchcraft.
While Joko was performing the ritual, some members of the public who had been returning from imbibing on alcohol at a nearby watering hole discovered him. The men are said to have been shocked to notice a young boy, naked and also performing the ritual. Joko was then asked what he was doing, to which he allegedly responded that he had been sent by his grandfather to perform the act. It is alleged that the teenager was then reported to the police at Malkerns Police Station. His grandfather is said to have denied the allegations. It was also later reported by this publication that following the allegations, Joko could no longer return to his grandfather’s home and he was then kept at a nearby homestead while a safer place was being considered.
The teenager had also made other allegations that he was forced to give food to people who were being kept at his grandfather’s home.
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The alleged kuchela was also reported at both the local umphakatsi around Mahlanya and also Malkerns Police Station. This resulted in Joko’s grandfather *Jomo being summoned. Last Thursday, Jomo, alongside his wife appeared before the umphakatsi, where throngs of residents also attended. Normally, the umphakatsi also doubles as a traditional court, where someone could be tried and when found guilty, could face punishment or made to pay a fine. Jomo’s case was heard by the local authorities led by Mbiya Fakudze, who is also the area’s indvuna. During the trial, Jomo was told about the allegations made by his grandson who is said to have been found performing kuchela. However, when he was asked questions about the allegations, his response was that he did not know anything about it. He disputed the allegations levelled against him that he had sent his grandson to perform kuchela at people’s homesteads. As the trial continued at the umphakatsi, there was a lot of murmuring by angry residents who questioned why he was disputing the allegations. “Uphikelani?” they shouted but they were also warned against the noise by the umphakatsi.
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After a long trail, the residents were asked to take a break while the inner council deliberated on the matter. At this time, the residents who had attended the trial were already demanding that Jomo be found guilty and banished from the community. However, when the residents were later called back for the continuation of the trial, they were shocked at the verdict. The residents had been shouting that Jomo and his family should be banished from the area. When passing the sentence, the Indvuna informed Jomo that his family will have to pay a fine of five cattle. He said this should be done not later than three months and that he also had the right to appeal the judgement. Also, the Indvuna, Fakudze told Jomo that
the reasons he was found guilty was because he did not respond to questions other than stating that he did not know anything about the allegations. Fakudze said for this reason, the family had to pay a fine for his grandson’s actions. Fakudze also warned that Jomo was also allegedly linked to another matter of abusing a child but that this would be looked into be the relevant authority. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni had confirmed that a matter relating to a child had been reported, but mentioned that the police were still investigating.