Open house at Rensburg’s son’s umgidi
UNIVERSITY of Johannesburg vice-chancellor Professor Ihron Rensburg briefly left his son’s umgidi recently, only to return and find nearly a dozen firefighters sitting inside a tent in his Summerstrand yard in Port Elizabeth, eating offal.
The firefighters had been called to put out a blaze at Rensburg’s Tiren Street home, but arrived to find it had been a false alarm.
Rensburg’s family were welcoming home their son, Lizo, 18, from initiation school and were celebrating at their home with other prominent South Africans including soccer boss Danny Jordaan, former National Prosecuting Authority boss Vusi Pikoli, businessmen Saki Macozoma and Sipho Pityana, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University vice-chancellor Professor Derrick Swartz, Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber president Mandla Madwara and Khoi chiefs.
Speaking from Johannesburg last night, Rensburg said he and his wife, Sizeka Magwentshu-Rensburg, had written and apologised in advance to neighbours for any inconvenience they might cause. He said they had also decided not to slaughter at home.
“This was a joyous occasion for us after Lizo spent four weeks in the bush in Transkei where I had to travel to now and then to give him support. We have a good relationship with most of our neighbours. Some of them even pitched up at the ceremony,” he said.
At about 8am on December 27, Rensburg left home to run errands and arrived back, only to find a fire engine – lights flashing – parked in front of his house.
“I was alarmed and anxious, thinking what might have happened now.
“When I got inside I found between eight and 10 firefighters relaxing and busy eating tripe inside the tent. I asked what was going on. Apparently someone had phoned to say there was a fire, but my wife explained to them we were having a traditional ceremony,” he said.
Magwentshu-Rensburg said there was a fire outside on which they prepared food and the smoke might have attracted unwarranted attention.
“When a neighbour from behind saw the smoke, they decided to call the fire brigade. This is the first time we have had a traditional ceremony and we won’t have another one any time soon because we have only one son,” she said.
Magwentshu-Rensburg said another neighbour complained about the smoke coming into their house and affecting her children, but was understanding when she was told it was from a fire to prepare food.
A neighbour who did not wanted to be named said while she was unhappy about the smoke, she had not phoned the fire station. “I made a personal call to Magwentshu-Rensburg because the ashes were getting into our property.
“I asked her to move to the other side but she explained to me it’s not in their culture to make food in front of the house. I did not argue with her further,” the neighbour said.