By Anita Dangazele
- A 41-year-old unemployed mother joins stokvels to buy food, alcohol and goats for her son’s initiation and umgidi ceremony.
- She says stokvels give single mothers financial relief when preparing for costly traditional rituals like ulwaluko and homecoming celebrations.
A 41-year-old unemployed mother of four has found a creative way to prepare for her son’s initiation ceremony – by joining three stokvels in her community.
The woman, who lives on her children’s support grants, said she realised she’d have no one to help her take her eldest son through ulwaluko, the traditional rite of passage into manhood.
“I found a stokvel for people planning traditional ceremonies at the end of the year. We contribute bottles of brandy, whiskey and ciders,” she said. “We’re mostly single mothers planning for our children’s umgidi.”
But alcohol alone was not enough, she added. “I joined another stokvel for food. We contribute money every month, and at the end of the year we all get groceries for our ceremonies.”
She also joined a cash stokvel to help cover unplanned costs. “I plan to buy two goats – one for ukuqatywa kwe nkwenkwe, and another for umngcamo. My uncle has promised a sheep for umgidi, and we’ll buy the rest of the meat,” she said.
The boy’s father is alive but hasn’t helped raise him. “I decided not to ask him for help anymore. He makes false promises, so I’d rather do it myself,” she said.
She also advises other single mothers to plan early. “Laybuy clothes every month so you’re not under pressure when the time comes,” she said.
Her son’s homecoming celebration will be held on 17 December.
Pictured above: Clothes bought for her son to wear after completing initiation.
Image source: Supplied
