Photos of Cyril Ramaphosa and Julius Malema appear in a traditional ritual setup

A viral image appears to place photographs of President Cyril Ramaphosa and Julius Malema inside a traditional ritual setup featuring a lit black candle in a bowl, a carved snake staff, a knife, red cloth and other ritual objects. The image is being presented online as an example of South Africans turning to traditional spiritual practices to express frustration with political leaders and the government, rather than relying only on conventional protest. The meaning or purpose of the ritual has not been independently established, but the inclusion of Ramaphosa and Malema’s photographs has drawn attention because both prominent political figures are depicted as part of the setup.

One thing the post leaves open is who arranged the ritual, since the image does not show the person who set it up or explain what they intended. The post also does not say where the photograph was taken or when. Those details matter because they would establish the context of the setup. Without them, the image shows only the objects and the two photographs placed among them.

People reacting to the post criticised the practice, with some saying the ritual reflected public frustration with political leaders and others calling for spiritual intervention against them. Some said the inclusion of Ramaphosa and Malema showed how far public anger had gone, while others questioned whether the photograph was genuine or staged. The reaction focused on the political figures rather than on the practice itself.

What remains unresolved is whether either Ramaphosa or Malema has responded to the image or whether the person who created the setup has explained their intentions. The meaning or purpose of the ritual has not been independently established, and online reactions have included calls for spiritual intervention against political leaders. The public is waiting for more information, because the image alone cannot establish what was intended.

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