Sheep head on beach raises ritual alarms

Residents of Umtentweni have raised concerns over a matter they are faced with on a regular basis at Umtentweni’s main beach – that of finding carcasses of animals, in particular sheep, goats and chickens.

They are found either floating in the shore break or buried in the sand after cleansing rituals have been performed.

Leila Edwards said it was a serious health hazard as the carcasses attract flies and maggots.

“A sheep or goat was slaughtered on the beach recently and the skin and bones were left in the children’s paddling pool,” she said.

She proposed that the municipality find a section of beach where these activities could be done without affecting the health and safety of beach-goers.

She explained that the rituals happen at night, when law enforcement is not around to issue a fine.

“As the community, we are told we have to be sympathetic and understanding of these ethnic cleansing rituals, which we are but we are against them being done on a public beach,” she added.

Evelyn Veringa, a regular walker in the area, said a safe spot for the rituals to take place would be further south from the main beach, opposite the entrance to Port Shepstone Country Club.

Leila agreed. “There is parking on a short road parallel to the R102 which is used by fishermen when fish are biting,” she said.

Umtentweni residents recently had to call the SPCA to remove bones and skin from the edge of the pool, but there were still bones left deeper in the pool.

Leila said that the beach cleaners do not touch the dead chickens and animals and that something really needs to be done.

“The SPCA can’t keep coming out every morning to removes these carcasses, it is a waste of resources.”

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