GOGO EATS LIBOVU TO SURVIVE

She demonstrates how she gets the red ochre using a knife while her grandchildren watch.

ESITSENI –  Culturally, red ochre (libovu) is commonly used for matrimonial purposes, but Gogo Lanuka Betty Kunene eats it as a meal when all sources of food run dry.

According to Swazi culture, a woman is smeared by her in-laws with red ochre as a sign of being part of the new family.
Gogo Betty shares the red ochre meal with her three grandsons, who are aged three, four and 11 years old.
“Sometimes we go to sleep on empty stomachs. And when there is no food we eat red ochre,” she said pointing at a site where she digs the red ochre. The site is situated behind one of her stick and mud houses.

Demonstrated

Without waiting for any approval, the hyper active 68-year old woman stood up and demonstrated how she harvested and ate libovu.
Armed with a blade, Gogo Betty knelt next to a small pit and scrapped the surface.
The term she used to describe the scrapping was kukebha.

After collecting enough, Gogo Betty took a handful of the red soil and swallowed it. She did not flinch or show any signs of discomfort.
She then took another handful of the soil, put it in a cup full of water and stirred and fed the mixture to her two grandsons.
Gogo Betty emphasised: “We eat it because of poverty. And seeing the little ones crying for food that is not there – it’s painful. That is why I then make them drink the mixture.”

The old woman pointed out that they only have a decent meal when she gets her monthly grant.
Government, through the Deputy Prime Minister’s office offers the elderly E600 every three months.
This is equivalent to E200 per month.
Gogo Betty said: “I buy rice, candles and soup packets with my monthly grant.”

She said she sometimes received support from her children, especially the fathers of the two young boys who stay with her.
She mentioned that the eldest, Thabo does not eat the red ochre because he gets food from school.
A neighbour Lindiwe Kunene said she once found the old woman eating the red ochre with her grandchildren.
“It was a very sorry sight. But with the help of neighbours and other community members, we now provide the family with food. However, it is not much because we also have to feed our own families,” she said.

What further aggravates Gogo Betty’s situation, according to Kunene, is that the old woman was expected to take care of the three grandchildren, who were literally dumped on her. 
She said Gogo Betty’s sons some who are working in South Africa barely visit home.
Married
“She also has three daughters who are married (bendza). We have not seen them for a long time. We do not know if they are dead or alive,” the concerned neighbour mentioned.
Kunene said they were concerned about the welfare and living conditions of the old woman.
When contacted for comment about Gogo Betty”s predicament, Social Welfare Deputy Director Moses Dlamini said this should not be happening.
“I will send officers to investigate the matter. The officers will conduct what we term a socio-economic report.
“After looking at the report, we will then take the appropriate action,” he assured.
Dlamini said they would make a full report after compiling the socio-economic report. 
Former Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku likened Gogo Betty’s story to that of another old woman of Siteki who was reported to be eating cow dung.
Masuku, who is known to be passionate on issues pertaining to elderly people, suggested that the matter should be reported to the Social Welfare, a department under the office of the DPM.

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