Die stroom van lofredes wat die vyftigste herdenking van die veragtelike sluipmoord op dr. Verwoerd op 6 September 1966 oor die radio, Internet en media sy onbevlekte karakter, sy insig, sy intellek en uitstaande staatmanskap besing het, was skynbaar vir Fred Khumalo en die Sowetan, te veel om te verteer.

Die twyfelagtige hoorsê bronne wat Khumalo aanhaal op sterkte waarvan hy stellings maak asof dit wat hy sê onbetwisbaar waar is, openbaar veel van nie net sy eie karakter nie, maar ook sy sieklike joernalistieke styl. Daarmee saam openbaar hy ook die politiekvyandige ingesteldheid van die swart ras en Sowetan jeens die blanke in Suid Afrika.

Dit is die media en sy geselekteerde medewerkers wat met artikels soos dié van Khumalo mense en instansies probeer verdag maak op sterkte van “goed nagevorste inligting”, wat by nadere ondersoek bloot hoorsê van bedenklike persone en individue blyk te wees. Dít skeel die Khumalo’s min of dit wat hulle skryf die waarheid reflekteer.

Wat vir hulle belangrik is, is om die leuen te versterk en lewendig te hou vir die politieke waarde wat dit vir hulle en hulle base inhou. Belangriker nog, is egter die betekenisvolle simbool van rassehaat en rasseonverdraagsaamheid wat daardeur bevestig word. Die skyn van beskaafdheid word nie deur die hooghartige gebruik van die Engelse taal versluier nie. Dit is artikels waarin uitsprake soos in die Sowetan hieronder deur Khumalo, wat dit na die oppervlak dryf vir almal om van kennis te neem.

Wanneer enigiemand die karakter van iemand soos dr. Verwoerd probeer beswadder, sal dit telkens sonder enige twyfel so iemand se begripsvermoë blootlê. Dit sal in die geval van ‘n swart joernalis, en die Sowetan wat deur hom verteenwoordig word, die klem laat val op die onhaalbaarheid van saamtrek in dieselfde juk en dus onvermydelik die beginsel van afsonderlike ontwikkeling versterk.

Khumalo se artikel aksentueer dus die intellek en politieke vêrsig van dr. Verwoerd in sy poging om die teendeel te bewys, terwyl dit vir een en almal wat dr. Verwoerd geken het, duidelik is dat Khumalo kwaadwillig met ongetoetste inligting, “feitlike stellings” maak om dr. Verwoerd se karakter te vermoor! ‘n David Pratt en Dimitri Tsafendas met ‘n pen en gewillige media forum, tot hulleblootlegging en beskaming, vanuit ‘n beskaafde perspektief waar waarheid en werklikheid ‘n norm is!

Die AVP het by ABE Books gaan vasstel wat die waarheid is oor die stellings wat Khumalo in sy artikel maak. U kan dit self hieronder lees om sy artikel in perspektief te sien. Neem in aanmerking dat die inligting oor Khotso eers in 2007 nagevors is, 35 jaar na sy dood. Feb 15, 2008 - The millionaire medicine man Khotso Sethuntsa was born in Lesotho in 1898, and lived and worked in Kokstad and the Transkei until his death in 1972. Verder is Khumalo se “feitlike”stellings gebaseer op: “It was said

.....Khotso claimed...... he maintained.....hinting that his...it has been said”, ensomeer.

(Die beklemtonings in die artikel is van die AVP)

FRED KHUMALO SE AANSLAG OP DIE KARAKTER VAN DR. VERWOERD

Black man who gave Verwoerd orders (SOWETAN)

By Fred Khumalo | Sep 16, 2016 | COMMENTS [ 66 ]

To mark the 50th anniversary of Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd's death, last week I wrote a newspaper piece in which I mentioned in passing that when this architect of apartheid was not in church, he would consult a black inyanga.

Both my Twitter and Facebook accounts have been deluged by requests for more on Khotso Sethuntsa, the inyanga behind Verwoerd's power. Some thought I'd mentioned the inyanga in jest.

I was not joking when I pointed out that both Verwoerd and another erstwhile prime minister of South Africa, JG Strijdom, consulted this multimillionaire inyanga in the build-up to the National Party's victory in 1948.

When I was growing up, the story of Khotso and his relationship with Afrikaner politicians - and how he'd used his magic to prop them up - was spoken of openly in black South Africa.

But in white South Africa it was only in recent times - especially with the 2007 publication of the well-researched and academically astute book The Extraordinary Khotso: Millionaire Medicine Man from Lusikisiki by Felicity Wood and Michael Lewis - that the dark side of Verwoerd came to light.

Sethuntsa, who preferred to be called by his first name was, by all accounts, a colourful character. He had 23 wives and bragged to all and sundry that he could satisfy them in bed because he used a magical potion called ibangalala.

People flocked to his headquarters in their hundreds to seek ibangalala; but some went so he could help them engage in ukuthwala. For the uninitiated, ukuthwala is a dark ritual where a person would go to the inyanga to obtain a potion of muthi to make him rich and powerful. Sadly, this specific ritual mostly entails the sacrifice of a human being - usually a relative of the client.

Khotso himself was extremely wealthy, a living advertisement of his muthi; it was easy to believe that he could make others rich.

According to the book by Wood and Lewis, Khotso delighted in the purchase, every year, of a new Cadillac at the Kokstad Agricultural Show. Khotso would arrive at the show with his coterie of bodyguards. They carried suitcases stuffed with banknotes. When they paid for the car, counting the banknotes would begin in earnest. Khotso did not trust banks. That's why he kept his money at home, and had to carry it in suitcases when making a big purchase.

Though it exasperated the white people who worked for the car dealership, they couldn't do anything about it. This was, after all, Khotso - a connected black man who was also a reliable customer of long-standing.

The relationship between the inyanga and the racist demagogue is fascinating if you consider the face that Verwoerd did not think highly of black people. He thought they were socially inferior and incapable of reaching certain levels of intellectual maturity.

In his justification of Bantu Education, he once said, "There is no place for [the Bantu] in the European community above the level of certain forms of labour. What is the use of teaching the Bantu child mathematics when it cannot use it in practice? That is quite absurd. Education must train people in accordance with their opportunities in life, according to the sphere in which they live."

But how Verwoerd died is fascinating. On April 9 1960 Verwoerd had gone to Milner Park, Johannesburg, to mark the jubilee of the Union of South Africa.

Just after he had delivered his opening address, David Pratt, a rich English businessman and farmer, pumped two bullets into the prime minister. One bullet penetrated his right cheek, and the second went through his ear.

Khotso's reputation soared. His muthi had saved Verwoerd.

Then on September 6 1966, Verwoerd, secure in parliamentary chambers, was knifed to death by Dimitri Tsafendas. Tsafendas, who worked as a messenger, had fooled managers into believing he was white, when in fact he was the product of a union between a Greek man and an African woman.

If you found the relationship between Khotso and Verwoerd bizarre, you have to read the erudite Charles van Onselen's The Seed is Mine.

In this book he writes about Kas Maine, a black farmer who also dabbled as an inyanga. "His reputation as a herbalist was slowly percolating through the district, and . he now found a few bashful Afrikaner males appearing amongst his more regular clients. His introduction to this less privileged and educated element of Boer society came via the white man whom he knew to have the greatest possible respect for the mysteries of black culture, Hendrik Swanepoel."

As the ancient Romans used to say in admiration: ex Africa semper aliquid novi - from Africa always something new. 

AbeBooks.com

I was not joking when I pointed out that both Verwoerd and another erstwhile prime minister of South Africa, JG Strijdom, consulted this multimillionaire inyanga in the build-up to the National Party's victory in 1948.

Also, he claimed to be in spiritual contact with Paul Kruger, hinting that his fortune derived from the long-lost Kruger millions. Meanwhile, leading Afrikaner Nationalists politicians, including H.F.Verwoed and J.G.Strijdom, sought Khotso out - for his medicines for political power, it has been said.

Khotso claimed his parents had worked for Paul Kruger, hinting that his fortune derived from the long-lost Kruger millions. He maintained that Kruger offered him guidance in spiritual and financial matters. Khotso predicted the winner of the Durban July three times in a row. On the first occasion, he said Kruger had shown him the name of the winner in a vision.

It was said that Afrikaner leaders, including JG Strijdom and HF Verwoerd, visited Khotso—for his medicines for political power. Verwoerd visited him just before the 1948 elections and many believed the Nationalists swept to victory because of the medicine.

Felicity Wood, Michael Lewis › The Extraordinary Khotso: Millionaire Medicine Man from ...

The Extraordinary Khotso: Millionaire Medicine Man from Lusikisiki (Paperback)

About the Book Bookseller & Payment Information  

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Extraordinary Khotso: Millionaire ...

Publisher: Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd, South Africa

Publication Date: 2008

Binding: Paperback

Book Condition: New

Description:

Language: English . Brand New Book. Khotso Sethuntsa, the near-legendary medicine man, was believed to be a worker of powerful and dangerous magic. Khotso was renowned and feared throughout South Africa and beyond, even after his death in 1972. He created a fabulous eccentric kingdom around himself. He has been surrounded by mystery: the origins of his fortune and the extent of his powers shrouded in secrecy. This title takes us into the world of one of southern Africa s best-known herbalists. Khotso was famed, especially, as a seller of ibangalala, a herbal remedy for sexual potency, and ukuthwala, a terrifying procedure for acquiring long-term wealth. Also, he claimed to be in spiritual contact with Paul Kruger, hinting that his fortune derived from the long-lost Kruger millions. Meanwhile, leading Afrikaner Nationalists politicians, including H.F.Verwoed and J.G.Strijdom, sought Khotso out - for his medicines for political power, it has been said. Some believed that Khotso had entered into an occult pact with the mamlambo, the seductive mermaid woman who grants wealth at a terrible price. It is rumoured that the tragic twists and turns in his life sprung from this. Yet, as one of his many wives said, he was, too, a lively, joking medicine man who loved money, sex and laughter. This title unravels many of the mysteries surrounding Khotso Sethuntsa. It explores his unique empire and tracks his extraordinary career. Bookseller Inventory # AAO9781770093614

About this title:

Synopsis: Khotso Sethuntsa, the near-legendary medicine man, was believed to be a worker of powerful and dangerous magic. Khotso was renowned and feared throughout South Africa and beyond, even after his death in 1972. He created a fabulous eccentric kingdom around himself. He has been surrounded by mystery: the origins of his fortune and the extent of his powers shrouded in secrecy. This title takes us into the world of one of southern Africa's best-known herbalists. Khotso was famed, especially, as a seller of ibangalala, a herbal remedy for sexual potency, and ukuthwala, a terrifying procedure for acquiring long-term wealth. Also, he claimed to be in spiritual contact with Paul Kruger, hinting that his fortune derived from the long-lost Kruger millions. Meanwhile, leading Afrikaner Nationalists politicians, including H.F.Verwoed and J.G.Strijdom, sought Khotso out - for his medicines for political power, it has been said. Some believed that Khotso had entered into an occult pact with the mamlambo, the seductive mermaid woman who grants wealth at a terrible price. It is rumoured that the tragic twists and turns in his life sprung from this. Yet, as one of his many wives said, he was, too, "a lively, joking medicine man who loved money, sex and laughter." This title unravels many of the mysteries surrounding Khotso Sethuntsa. It explores his unique empire and tracks his extraordinary career.