By Buziwe Nocuze
After enduring years of verbal abuse from their peers, the dignity of some 41 boys from Gugulethu Township has been restored with their return from initiation school.
The men, some older than 50, have endured the torment of younger men because they had not gone through the rite of passage.
They were not able to go through initiation over the years for various reasons, mostly because they come from poor backgrounds or could not afford the costs associated with the ritual.
But the Somagwaza Institute in Gugulethu, Cape Town, helped them and on Friday, the new men were presented to the Gugulethu community at Khwezi Community Hall.
Sikelela Zokufa, the founder of Somagwaza Institute and a traditional surgeon, said in 2018 they established the organisation to solve problems concerning initiates.
“There were so many deaths and cases of the land we use that were being illegally occupied. We also wanted to make sure that everyone involved in this tradition is properly trained and knows what they are doing,” said Zokufa.
Three years ago, they were asked to look at the issue of boys who are struggling to go to initiation school.
“People asked that we assist where we can, and we started last year by helping eleven boys; this year we had 41 candidates, the oldest of whom was 54 years old,” said Zokufa.
They assisted them because they wanted to give them back their dignity.
Now that they have helped them, the new initiates will be able to attend events without facing discrimination or being reminded that they still have to go to initiation school.
“We lost a huge amount of money, but that’s not important; we are taking this as giving back to the community.”
Mandla Cuntu, a 54-year-old new man, lost his parents at an early age and didn’t have anyone to assist him. And 41-year-old Lesley Lindwa didn’t go to initiation school when he was younger because he was involved in criminal activities.
“Being old and not being taken seriously as a man was stressing me. I am a changed man and I pay for my sins. We are all grateful to Somagwaza and the community for playing a huge role in our lives,” said Lindwa.
Pictured above: Somagwaza Institute and the Gugulethu community assisted 41 candidates to become men.
Image Credit: Buziwe Nocuze
