Call for national ancestors’ day

Johannesburg - Traditional leaders have initiated a petition to have an official day reserved to commemorate ancestors.

The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) seeks to have 8 May as the National Ancestors Day.

CONTRALESA secretary-general Zolani Mkiva says the day is about the liberation of the African voice.

“This is a matter of spirituality, it is not a religious matter, and all Africans are spiritual. Even those who do not believe in ancestors should take the opportunity to observe their own spirituality, as we are a product of those who came before us,’’ Mkiva says.

National Ancestors’ Day is considered as a day that would acknowledge African spirituality.

By the beginning of the week about 2 000 had signed the petition.