“We love our own Xikwembu ni teki wine”

Word spread like wildfire on social media, the streets and on radio shows that people of Magangeni village and some surrounding areas were consuming a home-made wine known as Xikwembu ni teki.

Xikwembu ni teki could be loosely translated as “Oh God take me!” This blend of what is alleged to be illicit wine is said to be deadly in that one who drinks it is pleading with God to literally kill them.

Those who spoke about it on social media, inside taxis and buses said that one has to consume only half a glass and then they would be totally drunk. “People who drink Xikwembu ni teki laugh alone and mess their pants,” said one resident. “They feel hot and strip naked in full view of all people, including children.”

The headman of Xihlobyeni section of Magangeni village, Mr Oupa Mahungu, condemned the use of Xikwembu ni teki and said that it was just causing unhealthy disorder among his people. “Residents complained to me about their men and sons who drink an unhealthy wine called Xikwembu ni teki,” he said. “Some women even complained that it made their men weak and useless in the bedroom. They also lose appetite for all kinds of food.”

He explained that just a month ago a man who was addicted to Xikwembu ni teki died and the family heard people saying that he had died as a result of witchcraft. “The family announced during his funeral that he was killed by Xikwembu ni teki and that nobody bewitched him to death,” Mahungu said. “The local Sanco members, who claim to be educated persons, support the brewing and selling of Xikwembu ni teki.”

Another resident, Mr Shadrack Ngobeni, said that he had stopped brewing Xikwembu ni teki after he learned it was an illegal wine. “I learned the skills of brewing Xikwembu ni teki from an old man who brewed it for personal use,” he said. “I turned my newly acquired skills into a small business, where I brewed and sold Xikwembu ni teki from my home. But soon people said I would be arrested and prosecuted, so I stopped.”

However, Ms Maria Maluleke is a sad mother and grandmother of nine dependants. She has been selling Xikwembu ni teki for over 15 years. She says only jealous individuals are complaining about her wine. “Those people do not even drink Xikwembu ni teki,” she said. “Nobody has ever complained about my wine before.”

There were many people sitting in small groups, consuming Xikwembu ni teki, at Maluleke’s yard on Monday. “People are lying in the name of Xikwembu ni teki out there, saying men who drink it can no longer make their women have children,” one of the men, Clever Maswanganyi, said. “My wife gave birth to our fourth child three days ago. Now what is it that people are saying about our fine wine?”

Another man, Mr Malan Ringani (64), said he started drinking Xikwembu ni teki in 1970. “So far I have 11 children and I am stronger than ever,” he said. “I am still strong even today and I mean what I am saying. As you can see here for yourself, our faces are full of smiles, which only shows that we love Xikwembu ni teki.”

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Waterval police, Const Cynthia Ndou, said that the police knew nothing about the alcohol known as Xikwembu ni teki. “We are in no position to comment on this matter since we know nothing about it,” Ndou said. “Xikwembu ni teki – that name is new to our ears.”

Date:05 September 2016

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

Read: 16047