HE has been in initiation school in Tshepisong, near Krugersdorp, since 2017.
And when it was time for him to leave in July last year, his gobela allegedly didn’t want to let him go.
This is because he was accused of being drunk and was then fined R12 500 and a goat.
Because of this, Luzuko Mhlangulane’s last ritual, which was meant to pave a way for him to go home, was cancelled.
However, the 43-year-old from Diepsloot, north of Joburg, is adamant that he wasn’t drunk.
“In fact, I never touched booze on 13 November, plus I had a church service the following day,” said Luzuko, who also happens to be a pastor at his gobela’s church.
“I feel this is exactly the reason he doesn’t want me to go,” said Luzuko.
He said everything was finalised and the only thing left was for the gobela to phahla for him and accompany him to his home.
Luzuko told Daily Sun he paid R13 000 for transportation from Tshepisong to his home in Eastern Cape.
He bought 10 cases of ciders, three cases of Hansa, three cases of Black Label beer, four bottles of brandy and five blankets.
There was also one mug, one bowl and R1 500 he paid to go to the river for a ritual, which didn’t happen.
“I left that day because I couldn’t stomach his behaviour. I left that day because I couldn’t stomach his behaviour. I can’t admit to something I didn’t do and pay such a heavy fine,” he said.
Luzuko said he tried to report the matter to the Traditional Healers Organisation, but they did not help him.
Daily Sun spoke to the gobela, Thembinkosi Moeketsi, who said Luzuko disrespected his home and ancestors. and he won’t tolerate it.
He was adamant that Luzuko was drunk that day and said he wouldn’t get any of his things back until he paid. the fine.
“He’s not doing this for the first time. He has been drunk before and was suspended from being a pastor for six months,” said Thembinkosi.
Thembinkosi added that he had a great relationship with Luzuko and some thwasas would even send Luzoko to talk to him if they needed anything.
This is because they understood each other.
Thuthukile Kabini of the Traditional Healers Organisation said this was wrong on all levels.
She said first of all, Luzuko spent too many years at the initiation school, which was questionable.
“I don’t understand how that gobela is fining that man this amount of money because the only fine a gobela is suppose to get is if a thwasa (initiate) dies while being initiated. Even so, a family buys a goat to cleanse that home,” said Thuthukile.
Thuthukile said the even if Luzuko did drink, that would be his ancestors telling him to do so andgobela had no business telling him to drink or not. She advised Luzuko to open a case.
“One thing people don’t understand is that when you’re being initiated, your ancestors are the ones driving that process and the gobela is just there to help,” said Thuthukile.
