After its construction three months ago, Grahamstown’s Extension 9 community hall still lies closed and unused. The newly built modern face-brick building is meant to be used for a variety of community and cultural activities including weddings, funerals and community meetings.
After its construction three months ago, Grahamstown’s Extension 9 community hall still lies closed and unused. The newly built modern face-brick building is meant to be used for a variety of community and cultural activities including weddings, funerals and community meetings.
During its construction, a man died while working and this has sparked an outcry by the residents, who believe that a traditional Xhosa cleansing ceremony should take place there before the hall can be used.
What was supposed to be a joyous celebration at the opening of the hall a few weeks ago, turned into a fierce protest which barred councillors from entering the hall. "No cow ritual at the hall, no opening of the hall," said Sandiswa Mini, a resident staying adjacent to the hall. "A person died here and we don’t want his spirit to haunt us," she said.
Two other women residents echoed Mini’s sentiments.
These residents believe that the slaughtering of the cow is part of a cleansing ceremony to let the deceased spirit rest in peace. The Makana City Council spokesperson, Thandy Matebese, is adamant that the council will not perform a ritual in favour of the residents. "We are a government institution and we will not take partake in any cultural rituals," he said. According to Matabese, the family members of the deceased are responsible for the ritual, not the city council.
Matebese confirmed that the hall has never been used but said it was ready for use by any community member. He said he is not aware that the community members were not going to use it until the ritual is performed. "The hall was built at the request of the community, it is their hall, not the council’s," he said.
Some residents await the opening ceremony ritual, but seeing as the council has no plans to perform the ritual, the hall stands unused.
