Daily Sun (July 14 2015) - WHEN the little boy’s killers stole his head, it created a terrible problem for the family.
Their tradition said they couldn’t bury an incomplete body.
SO AFTER CONSULTING ELDERS THEY BURIED THE HEADLESS CHILD – WITH A GOAT’S HEAD!
Family, friends and politicians bade farewell on Sunday to Lwambeni Primary School grade 1 pupil Mzwandile Mkhize (6), from Zwelibomvu at KwaNdengezi, west of Durban.
Mzwandile’s grieving dad, Mduduzi Mkhize (44), explained the family’s agony that led to them consulting elders. Finally,the family decided with elders to use a goat’s head after losing all hope of finding Mzwandile’s head.
“We believe that a person buried with body parts missing doesn’t find rest. “We wanted to get the funeral over with so we could find closure,” said Mduduzi. It broke the hearts of his six remaining children that they couldn’t see their little brother in his coffin. “I couldn’t let them see him in that state. I decided people would see only his photo on the coffin.”
Mduduzi said the family suspected little Mzwandile’s head was used for muthi. “The brother who was with Mzwandile when he was abducted is still traumatised. “He told us a red car stopped and a man in the car called Mzwandile by name. “We believe he was killed by someone from the area or close to us,” said Mduduzi.
At the funeral, Mzwandile’s mother, Sizakele Thabethe (38) sobbed as people expressed their grief over her son’s death. National Freedom Party MP Sibusiso Mncwabe lashed out at people who kill children for muthi. “I’m here on behalf of my leader, Zanele KaMagwaza Msibi, to tell people that you will never get rich by using children’s body parts. “You will never find rest as the child’s family will be weeping. We are tired of the abuse of children and women due to silly superstitions,” said Mncwabe. SA Traditional Healers’ Association president, Sazi Mhlongo, said: “Even in the olden days, people were found with their heads missing.
“But animal body parts were never used as replacements. “If the family used strong muthi, Mzwandile would rest in peace,” said Mhlongo. At a time of going to print, no arrest had been made.
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