Campaigners Demand End To Bare Hand Bull Killing In South Africa

A campaign to end South Africa’s ritual bare hand bull killing is in top gear spearheaded by animal welfarists across the African continent. Barely two months before another bull is torn apart to die a terrified and agonizing death, the South African Parliament has been petitioned to denounce this annual ritual as unbecoming of the modern face of Africa.

The momentum against this inhumane cultural practice build up during the pan-African conference on animal welfare, held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 21- 22 September 2009, during which delegates unanimously called for the recognition of animals as ‘sentient’, deserving of care, respect and protection.

Delegates at this conference organized by Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) also signed a petition calling on the South African Parliament to halt, with immediate effect, the bare handed killing of the bull at the First Fruit Festival in Kwa Zulu-Natal usually held on the first Saturday in December each year. The petition stated:

“We believe that cruelty to animals is not the face of Africa that will see us contributing to global discourse as competent and dignified participants.” Countries that took part in the conference included Somali, Uganda, Egypt, DR Congo, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and South Africa.
During the right-of-passage ritual known as “Ukweshwama” which occurs every year in the First Fruits Festival in Kwazulu Natal, a bull is killed by a group of young men with their bare hands. The men pull the bull to the ground. His tongue will be ripped out. Terrified, he will struggle, but he will be outnumbered. Handfuls of dirt will be shoved into his mouth. Hands will plunge into his eye sockets and tear out his eyes. His genitals will be mutilated. Other horrendous acts will follow until life will finally drain from his helpless body.
Animal Welfare campaigners in Africa are not alone in this mission. A group of Australians led by Carole de Fraga from Compassion in World Farming in Australia and independent campaigner, Natalie Houghton have appealed to the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, to suspend this traditional Zulu event that is planned for Saturday, December 5.
The ritual is excluded from animal protection laws on grounds of cultural liberty. “In our letter to President Zuma,” said Ms Houghton, “We respectfully suggest that that there are other important factors relating to the bull slaughter, other than cultural liberty, such as: changing human values; the degrading effect on the men who engage in the ritual; the bull’s capacity to feel extreme fear and pain; and the international image of South Africa.
Ms Houghton and Kenyan well respected animal welfare campaigner, Frankline Mukwanja will be in Cape Town in November to lobby senior South African government and opposition officials to end this inhumane cultural practice.