The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa, is scheduled to attend the homecoming ceremony of 114 initiates in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, on 4 January 2025.
This was the big day when all the initiates returned home after undergoing circumcision, a ritual that ushers one into manhood according to Basotho culture and several other tribes in the country. It is a rite of passage that gives the young men great values, discipline, and responsibilities that prepare them for various social services.
The 114 initiates attending the initiation school belonging to the Mongoato family will return home after going through their rite of passage. For over two decades since 1987, hundreds of young men have been going through the ritual without incident.
Minister Hlabisa said the communities that observe this cultural practice, in line with the set regulations, should be due recognition and support. This will be at St. Paul Village led by uNkosi (Morena) Lepheana in Alfred Nzo District.
Of late, Minister Hlabisa has expressed concerns over the safety of initiation practices, calling for urgent action to prevent initiation-related deaths ¹ ² ³. His attendance at the homecoming ceremony underlines the need to preserve cultural traditions while ensuring safety and the well-being of participants.
