SAHHUKULU ‘SITS’ ON MAGISTRATE’S CHAIR

SIMUNYE – There was fear and panic at the Simunye Magistrates Court last Thursday when an owl (sahhukulu) was spotted on the magistrate’s chair. An owl is considered a bad omen in Eswatini culture and it is also associated with witchcraft in most African countries.

So when two Simunye court cleaners spotted the bird ‘relaxing’ on the magistrate’s chair, they immediately shouted for help.
Others staff members reportedly rushed inside the main court, assuming it was a snake but only to find an owl occupying the most important chair inside the courtroom.

Witnesses said the owl did not move at the sight of the staff members but as they began to make a lot of mumblings, it jumped off the chair and moved around the courtroom.

Pictures

This allowed some staff members to take pictures of it with their mobile phones.
Police were then called to the scene and they arrived promptly, armed with their service firearms.
The officers from Simunye managed to capture the owl and removed it from the courtroom. It was later handed over to conservationists from a game park around the Simunye area, said some officers.

Meanwhile, at the court room, staff members remained gripped by fear.
The incident took place in the morning and this reportedly resulted in the court session starting later than scheduled.
“The magistrate was not around when all this happened. So when he was called and informed about what had happened, he suggested that he be provided with another chair and that the one on which the owl was found should be removed,” said a source. As per the magistrate’s wish, the source said a new chair was provided for the judicial officer and the court session commenced.

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