‘Xhosa men only’ at initiation sites

Only Xhosa men councillors who have gone through the rite of passage will be allowed to visit initiation schools in Nelson Mandela Bay this week.

All other councillors must respect the IsiXhosa culture and stay clear of the sites.

This was the message from certain councillors at a public health committee meeting on Tuesday.

The councillors will visit the city’s initiation schools on Wednesday and Thursday to establish if they are safe and ready for the initiation season.

The statement caused a tense debate about culture sensitivity, with councillors who referred to themselves as Xhosa men warning women as well as white and uncircumcised councillors not to set foot on the sites.

Tensions ran high as some said they had felt undermined in 2017 when former mayor Athol Trollip and women councillors visited the sites to inspect them.

The mostly ANC councillors claimed that allowing women and white councillors to attend went against Xhosa tradition and would expose the initiates to potential witchcraft.

Chief Ayanda Faku, of the Emfundisweni Great Place, said women were only allowed at the initiation schools to build grass huts.

He said a woman who entered the site while menstruating could invite bad luck for the initiates, which could lead to the possibility of the initiates’ wounds not healing.

ANC councillor Gamalihleli Maqula said Trollip’s attendance at sites in 2017 had undermined them.

“We are very concerned that councillor [Francois) Greyling appears to be ready to attend.

“Last year, when councillor Trollip went to the initiation schools, we felt undermined and if [portfolio head Yolisa Pali] goes there you will see,” Maqula said.

ANC councillor Ncediso Captain said: “I have noticed that some people go to this oversight visit for fun, but Xhosa tradition is sensitive.

“It must be protected because we don’t know what it is that you [women and others] are bringing with you.”

The comments were not well received by DA women

‘When councillor Trollip went to the initiation schools, we felt undermined’ Gamalihleli Maqula

ANC COUNCILLOR

councillors, who said the committee had decided at a previous meeting in August that all members would attend.

DA councillor Koleka Ngumbela said she failed to understand the problem because the entire committee visited the sites while initiates were not there.

EFF councillor Pinky Tshanga urged those who “had no business” going to the sites to stay away.

“I am pleading with the women not to go there because it is a holy place.

“This is something that involves our ancestors.

“As a traditionalist, I urge that we close this matter, understanding that only those who attend go,” Tshanga said.

Pali said she was portfolio head for people of all cultures in the metro.

“This is a sensitive matter. I am sitting here as both a Xhosa woman and an MMC.

“We are not wanting to be seen as undermining tradition, therefore all female councillors will not go on the oversight visit – only Xhosa [circumcised] men,” she said.