Sound advice for pupils as initiation season launches
AS the winter initiation season commences, young Xhosa school boys from Mdantsane were given words of wisdom by members of the community police forum (CPF) before they embarked on their rites of passage to manhood.
The talk on Thursday was part of a circumcision awareness campaign themed “Go to initiation school alive and return alive” held at various schools around Mdantsane.
Mdantsane cluster police spokesman Captain Nkosikho Mzuku said the purpose was to teach schoolboys about the do’s and don’ts in initiation school and to prevent criminal elements from blighting the initiation.
“We saw that the initiation season was starting and we wanted to equip them with the necessary precautionary measures to help them not to become part of criminal activities. We hope parents could be of great assistance also,” said Mzuku.
The police forum, in partnership with the departments of education and social development, visited schools including Hlokoma High, Wongalethu High and Mzamomhle High and held discussions with 100 young people.
During June and December every year, thousands of Xhosa boys from across the province go for initiation, and some don’t return.
Last year, the death toll of initiates stood at 27 across the province, with 11 of those occurring during the winter period.
Department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs spokesperson Mamkeli Ngam urged communities to work with the police in reporting any illegal activities at schools.
“We want this year’s initiation period to have no deaths.
“The rites of passage do not kill our boys – illegal activities kill them. So we urge the community to stand up to this, and chiefs must be at the forefront,” said Ngam.
The death toll in the province has decreased over the years from 46 deaths in the summer of 2015 to 29 in 2016 and 27 last year. —