…..Archbishop Bheki Lukhele founder of All Nations Church brings in 460 congregants
BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MLAWULA – Close to 1000 hikers joined Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Moses Vilakati on Sunday morning to track from Siphiso camp to the historic Khabane Caves here at Mlawula.
However, due to the long distance from the camp to the summit of the caves, hikers were first provided with a mode of transport and they dropped off at the summit of the cave where they eventually tracked up the steep hill. This journey is 10.5 kilometres.
In fact, a faction of the hikers, together with media personnel, arrived at Mlawula Nature Reserve on Saturday afternoon for a festival and camped at Siphiso Camp. However, minister Vilakati and his Principal Secretary Khangezile Mabuza arrived on Sunday morning where he addressed trackers before embarking on the journey to Khabane Caves.
Other dignitaries who joined the minister for the tracking included Lubombo Region MP Lorraine Nxumalo, Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) Chief Executive Officer Stanley Dlamini, Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC) Board Chairperson Dr. Sikhomba Gumbi, Eswatini Environment Authority (EEA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gcina Dladla, Former Mbabane Mayor Zephaniah Nkambule and Cheshire Homes Director Khabo Dlamini.
Before leaving Siphiso camp to the summit of the cave, hikers first stretched their muscles through aerobics exercises. It took trackers at least 45 minutes to reach the caves. At the caves, ENTC Director of Culture Bonisile Ndlangamandla gave a brief lecture to the hikers about the historic facts of the Khabane caves. She explained that Stone Age tools were found in the cave, which is proof that some inhabitants used the cave as a shelter. These artefacts, she said, are now kept at the Eswatini National Museum.
“When we conducted a carbonating exercise for the extracted artefacts, it was concluded that they aged up to 12 000 years. This is proof that it was during the Batfwa period, the people who were living a nomadic life,” she said.
She said the ENTC did another research where it was found that there were people who lived in the caves during the Iron Age period. This was 250 to 350 years ago, she said.
“The third episode that also has given evidence of life at the cave is the time of the Mfecane War. It transpired that this cave was also used as a hiding spot for warriors,” she said.
She said the cave was used by Ematfonga who were hiding from Soshangane.
ARCHBISHOP BHEKI LUKHELE FOUNDER OF ALL NATIONS CHURCH BRINGS IN 460 CONGREGANTS
MLAWULA – It would seem Sunday sermon for All Nations Church was held at Mlawula Nature Reserve.
This is after Archbishop Bheki Lukhele brought 460 of his church members to Mlawula for the Khabane caves hiking.
The bishop, together with his members, arrived at the Siphiso camp at around 7 am. They were driving on buses, kombis and trucks.
Joining the rest hikers, all-nation members proceeded to the summit of the cave where they tracked up to the cave.
Companies that attended:
Afrox, Cheshire Homes, Good Shepard Hospital, Southern Star, Eswatini Water Services Corporation, First National Bank, All Nations Church
