Though their physical graves are left behind, we have to collect the souls of our ancestors to our new home. When a new home is completed, you collect them by taking a branch of a tree called umLahlankosi. If it is a female ancestor, you have to collect her with a branch called umGanu. You go to their graves and you tell them: "Now my ancestors, I have come to collect you from this abandoned home to a new place." When you collect them using a car, this is what happens. You will go with a few older members of your family and at the graves you will tell each of your ancestors that you are there to collect them to a new home. From there you tell them that they must get into the car and go. Inside the car you don't talk to anyone. If the car stops in town, and it happens that your relative comes and talks to you, you just keep your mouth shut. He will see you carrying umcansi (a small reed mat) and the branches of this tree, and he will understand.
Baba Thethwayo, interviewed by student researcher Mduduzi Mcambi, Khula Village, April 2001