Winnie Madikizela Mandela Local Municipality held a community dialogue on Initiation Awareness at Sicelo Bhani community hall at Ward 17 on Tuesday the 6th of December 2022, under the theme Mabaye bephila babuye bephila”.
This program follows the sudden death of an initiate in one of the initiation schools at Bizana. The 21-year-old man from Dutyini location was reported dead on Sunday the 4th of December 2022.
The 2022 summer traditional initiation season was officially opened on the 4th of November by the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee on Ulwaluko. With the aim of educating young boys as they transit from boyhood to manhood which comes with immense adult responsibilities.
The Panellist was consisting of the Alfred Nzo district Municipality speaker Sixolile Mehlomakhulu, Nkosi Bhanxa, Council of churches and, government department’s officials.
The aim of the dialogue was to find solutions to the problems on initiation that at times lead to the death of young men.
“The main challenge we are currently facing in this district is that of illegal initiation schools and people who are not following the rules and regulations that have been put to place. Now we have requested that we have small courts in the district to deal with such cases”, said ANDM speaker, Sixolile Mehlomakhulu.
The involvement of the department of social development, department of education and the Department of Health in the initiation process have ameliorated the initiation process, working in hand with the initiation forum.
About two illegal initiation schools were found at Mzize location in Bizana, this summer.
Winnie Madikizela Mandela local Municipality mayor Daniswa Mafumbatha called for the involvement of both parents on the talks about initiation.
The panelist urged the community members to abide by the rules and save the lives of the young men.
