The proud friends and family of 35 initiates filled the Nangoza Jebe community hall in Gqeberha on Wednesday to celebrate the boys’ graduation into manhood.
Just last year, this thanksgiving ceremony, known as umgidi, was a far-fetched dream for these men; they are from low-income families, and could not afford the fees to put them through the traditional rite of passage.
However, their costs had been paid by nine ward councillors using funds in their budget allocated for humanitarian purposes.
One parent, who asked to be identified only by her clan name Mamzangwa, said she was grateful to her ward councillor for thinking of her 20-year-old son who had been left behind by his peers, who had undergone the ritual at 18.
“My son was starting to isolate himself from his friends to avoid being undermined and called ‘inkwenkwe’. I’m grateful to the councillor because I had no means to send him to initiation school,” she said.
Deputy mayor Khusta Jack emphasised the importance of undergoing this important ritual in the Xhosa culture.
“This is an important ceremony in our culture because it seeks to develop boys into men. Without having undergone this process many of these boys would have had problems adapting to society.”
And, he added, “We’re proud of our councillors for coming together to assist those families in need. We commend them for their good work.”
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane was also in attendance. He commended the ward councillors and the municipality for incurring the cost of such an important rite of passage.
“This is not a waste of taxpayer’s money as some may say, this is an act of kindness,” he said. “As the province we’re proud of these councillors, and wish to see many of these events in the coming years.”
