The ancestors are angry, says Chief Tikhontele
He said the cause of the Lily Mine collapse in 2016 might be the ignorance of carrying out ancestral rituals by the previous mine management.
LOUISVILLE – Lomshiyo traditional council leader, Chief Tikhontele Dlamini, believes a ceremony to appease the ancestors is needed at Lily Mine as soon as it is reopened.
He spoke at a meeting called by the Nkomazi Local Municipality last Thursday where he addressed community members and workers who have been camping outside the mine for more than 200 days.
He said the cause of the Lily Mine collapse in 2016 might be the ignorance of carrying out ancestral rituals by the previous mine management.
“Rituals are important and once this mine reopens, it should be a priority. The management approached me twice before they started digging and I gave them my blessings. Little did I know I was giving the lives of other people’s children away.”
READ: https://www.citizen.co.za/mpumalanga-news/373218/lily-mine-pretty-nkambules-brother-recalls-tragedy/
He went on to say that digging alone is not enough and it will not appease the ancestors. “There are certain procedures to be followed when rituals are performed and I am certain that if it was done as they claimed, it was not done correctly. I do not know if I will still be alive by then, but they must be performed,” he said.
He assured the families of having his full support, but expressed disappointment on the progress of retrieving the container underground.
“Mistakes were made, but the three families deserve to bury their loved ones. It is now the time to either get in and find the container or wait with the fear of getting arrested,” he concluded.
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