The killing of bulls is in the spotlight again ahead of the first fruit festival in Nongoma, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, next month.

Animal Rights Africa on Monday said it has written letters to the Zulu royal household to discuss the issue of bull killing, which usually takes place at the time of the festival.

During the ritual young Zulu men kill a bull with their bare hands to test their courage.

Preparations for the Ukweshwama Festival are currently underway, despite calls from several local and international animal rights groups to stop the killing of bulls.

Animal Rights Africa said it was not against the first fruit festival but rather the bull killing ritual.

It has called the practice extremely cruel as the bull must be killed with one’s bare hands, making it a torturous ordeal for the animal.

Several other international animal rights groups are also lobbying to have the practice banned.

It has been reported that activists in Cape Town approached talk show queen Oprah Winfrey to intervene but they have not received a response from her office.