South Africa      

 

June 3, 2008                                          Shaka Zulu revisited Jonny Norwegian expat During Shaka Zulu’s reign, Mzilikazi fled north to escape Shaka Zulu’s violent rule. Mzilikazi, chief of the Ndwandwe tribe that was acquired and taken under the Zulu wings, decided to set up his own kingdom. With his remaining regiment and families he settled down in Matabeleland in todays Zimbabwe, where he became the King of the Matabele. Although out of reach for Shaka Zulu, they had to face other battles. The most recent one gave them reason to flee once again, away from their own country’s leader Robert Mugabe and back to South Africa. The ironic part is that although not a major part, some of them came all the way back to the Zulu kingdom – KwaZulu Natal! Yet again, they are hunted by Zulu’s. Over the last couple of weeks, 50-60 people have been killed and thousands chased from their homes in the black townships throughout South Africa. It’s a small minority of the Zulu’s that are behind it, but people are talking about political motives. The Inkatha Freedom Party has been mentioned as the possible instigator. Perpetrators are singing “Umshini Vami” the ANC (African National Congress) freedom song (Meaning: “Give me my machine gun”) that was one of Jacob Zuma’s trademarks during the recent election. Whether it is Mangosutho Buthelezi (Inkatha) or Jacob Zuma (ANC), as well as Robert Mugabe… They are no better than Shaka Zulu for the Zimbabweans in South African exile! They run for their lives today like they did 200 years ago to escape the Zulu Impis. But where will you run now people of Matabeleland and Zimbabwe?! Jonny Norwegian expat

 

Jonny

 November 25, 2007
                                                   Tsotsis and Sangomas

At the split between the White and the Black Imfolozi River lies Shaka, Zulu’s old hunting pits. This is where he sent his young Zulu’s to kill a lion and become a man and a respected warrior. It’s scarce to see lions there today, even though it’s a protected area and part of the Umfolozi (Imfolozi) game reserve. The Zulu’s have lost the opportunity to prove their manhood and warrior skills… and in turn the apparent chance to claim a few extra wives! Wouldn’t that make you mad if you were a Zulu? I know I would, especially if I had my eye on a pretty Zulu girl and I had to keep my hands off because the hunting grounds were closed off so that I could not show my worth. It’s a basic instinct in every man – not only Zulu’s!

  Aren't we worth a lion each?
So what do you do then? There are no lions to kill, and an Impala would certainly not make the same impression. Well, there are no more wars to be fought either, so for the warrior part of it there is no need for them any more. The temper and aggressiveness is still in the genes though. There are other wars to be fought in the modern South Africa. To survive many resort to the Tsotsi (thief) way! To be a lonely Tsotsi is risky business. If caught you could be stoned to death by the local settlement’s self justice system. The police will not argue a Tsotsi’s casein front of a hundred strong bloodthirsty crowd! The stones will get you for sho’! Who knows, maybe the crowd see you as a “lion”, and extra eager to show their killing skills?!

No, you don’t want to be a lonely Tsotsi. You want to be part of a gang in organized crime. The gang is your life insurance! Better than any that Sanlam or any other insurance company can give you! Your Tsotsi brothers are proactive about saving your ass, whilst the insurance companies can only try to mend your broken skull afterwards. The choice is easy! It’s just not that simple! Again you have to prove your worth – and kill that “lion”! When there are no lions to be found, you go for the specie that stole the lion’s title as “king of the jungle” – MAN! You would think that you are safe whilst out for a jog and apparently not carrying tons of valuables. It’s just that when the Tsotsis are doing their Tsotsi-matric, it is not about the money. It’s about your scalp – you’re the hunted lion!
 

locals cut all the fermented and stinking fat and flesh off a whale carcass on the beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A good and respected Tsotsi gang has their own Sangoma (Witch Doctor). The Sangoma acts as a great organizational motivator. Vikings ate “fleinsopp” (Mushroom that made you hallucinate and wild) before going berserk in the front rows in battle, and they were feared all over! Likewise the Sangomas provide the right muti to make you invisible and invinsible! With such powerful muti, your courage and strength reaches new levels. I thought maybe some Sangoma went on a studytrip to Scandinavia to discover the “fleinsopp”, but the Sangomas are not copycats! They’ve got their own abundance of flora and fauna to pick from. I should stress fauna! The Tsotsi-matric-kill serves another purpose as well, not only as “lion kill”. The Sangomas are powerful respected and busy guys, so they have a high turnover on their muti stock! Thus they have to continuously produce new muti. Same logistical principle as in any business… Just in time, kanban etc. Supply and demand. That’s why they need their Tsotsi underlings to bring in their kill once in a while. The human organs are powerful muti!
In Sodwana Bay one year I watched locals cut all the fermented and stinking fat and flesh off a whale carcass on the beach. They were proud to tell me it was for muti. Most likely good muti. Worst case it would give enough courage to steal a doll from a five year old girl! No, only human organs will do when you’re up to some serious Tsotsi action… and it takes good muti to get more supplies of good muti. You have to invest to harvest basically!After we were robbed recently, we had several security companies on the scene to give their thoughts and advice… and long before the police managed to get here I should add! The common opinion from all was that the Tsotsi was incredibly brave and calm, which means that either his head was too big, or he had some means to get out of a pressed situation. It was suggested that the bravery coud be due to the fact that it was a muti-thief! Not that he was after our guts necessarily, but he was “blessed” by his Sangoma with all the rituals that goes into it. Then the Tsotsi gets a string around his waist with courage enhancing muti, making you both invisible and invincible!