07 Aug 2022

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi on Friday braved the morning chill to participate in a traditional death notification ritual (tatolo) in Moshupa in honour of his deceased nephew, Mr Motlhatlosi Molefhi.

As Sekgatla-sa-Mmanana tradition prescribes, by virtue of being  Mr Molefhi’s uncle, President Masisi received specified items from the deceased’s home.

They included a traditional handcrafted chair, a blazer and an axe as wel as a bull to be slaughtered for the ritual.

Apart from helping a berieved family find closure, the ceremony is also a way of appreciating the role that an uncle played in the nephew’s upbringing and leading family traditional ceremonies.

In an interview, family spokesperson, Mr Moses Masisi described the ritual as a traditional way of honouring the deceased’s soul.

Highlighting some aspects of the ritual,  he said upon arrival at the deceased’s to collect his due, the uncle was not allowed to converse with anyone. 

“All that is expected from the uncle is to collect the belongings that he would find displayed at the clan’s kgotla or by the gate and immediately return to the ceremony site without even exchaning greetings.  

Traditionally this ceremony is conducted at the uncle’s house before dawn and both the bull and the deceased’s belongings should reach the uncle’s place before the sun rises,” he said.

The spokesperson said the bull should be slaughtered immediately before it could even urinate.

As per tradition, part of the beast, specifically a thigh, is given back to the deceased’s family.

He said it was customary for the ceremony to take place around the first anniversary of someone’s demise.

Applauding President Masisi for upholding tradition and making time to execute family duties, he said traditional ceremonies sould be documented for the benefit of future generations. ends