Several Mamelodi traditional healers were invited to the Tshwane Automative Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) on Tuesday to invoke ancestral protection for the people working there, the factory premises and production activities taking place there.
Guests were treated with traditional food and also drank traditional beer known as Mxombhothi.
Guest was entertaining by traditional dance group Dibata tsa Mmino.
Traditional healers also burn mpepo to connect to the ancestors and also dance for the occasion.
Chief Mabena was amongst the guests.
TASEZ is a factory that produces motor parts vehicles for Ford Motor manufacturing company, and it is situated next to the famous motor manufacturing company in Silverton, Tshwane.
“Inviting traditional healers to come and bless our premises is a celebration of African spiritual month and also an acknowledgment that the piece of land we are occupying as TASEZ today used to be a place where people used to live in the past and we also have a cemetery of those people here, and we appreciate the fact that they have allowed us to build TAZES here” explained TASEZ Community Engagement specialist Zama Ndebele.
“Another factor that necessitates our invitation to traditional healers is that our factory is situated next to a river and in African spiritual protocol, there is a need to appease the ancestors who live in every river that people reside next to,” he said.
“As we also need guiding angels, we have asked different religious groups like Muslims, Christians, African traditional healers to bless and fortify this place for upliftment, security and blessings so that production here at TASEZ can continue peacefully and also in a way that benefits the community of Mamelodi without any challenges that can cause human deaths or accidents, and we are really praying that the spirits of Christians, Muslims and the African ancestors would pave the way for peace here and also for the blessing of TASEZ leadership to continue connecting with the community so that we can do right things here to ensure that this whole project benefits the people of Mamelodi, Nellmapius, Eersterus and other outlying areas,” he said .
Ndebele said a prayer to the ancestors (libation) was conducted and incense known as mpepo was burnt so as to communicate with the ancestors of the said piece of land and ask for guidance because this was a place where people lived, and it was a community in the past.
“This place was a farm before the land was taken away from its original inhabitants during the days of apartheid and it therefore becomes important to reconnect with the spirits of those people and acknowledge that what we have today is a continuation of that same community through a business venture called TASEZ as we have investors from different parts of the world here and about 3000 people working here,” explained Ndebele.
Responding to the invitation to come and bless the TASEZ factory premises, a representative of the Mamelodi Indegenous Healers Zandile Nkosi known with an ancestral name Mkhulu Smohlolo Dlamini said the following:
“We are honoured to be here today, and we thank you for inviting us to come and bless this prestigious event because as we gather here today, we are reminded that August marks African Traditional Medicine month, which is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage and wisdom that has been passed down through generations,” she said.
“We are grateful to be here, representing traditional healers and spiritual leaders of our communities and may our presence bring prosperity, harmony and balance,” she said.
Now directly addressing Chief Executive of TASEZ Dr Bheki Zulu, he said the following:
“May you Ndabezitha be a leader in embracing African spirituality; setting an example for others to follow and may your commitment to sustainability ensure a bright future for generations to come and we thank you for recognising our traditional healing practices,” he said.
“Together let us heal, thrive and nurture a legacy that will flourish for generations to come,” he said.