ANIMAL Rights Africa is going to the high court in Pietermaritzburg tomorrow in a bid to stop the "cruel" ukweshwama ritual of killing a bull with bare hands, the organisation saidyesterday.

ANIMAL Rights Africa is going to the high court in Pietermaritzburg tomorrow in a bid to stop the "cruel" ukweshwama ritual of killing a bull with bare hands, the organisation saidyesterday.

Spokesperson Michele Pickover said the rights group had already instructed environmental lawyer Tina Costas to act on its behalf to apply for an order to halt the ritual, which is to be presided over by King Goodwill Zwelithini on December 5.

"The ritual does nothing to strengthen nation building. A group of men torture and kill a bull," Pickover said.

The respondents in the matter are Zwelithini, the minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, the minister of police, the province's premier and its MEC for local government, housing and traditional affairs. - Sapa