Still no deaths at Embo Madoda
Initiation school sets standard for rest of country
For close to 20 years, Embo Madoda has prided itself with producing the best men and they boast about their 100% death-free record since its inception.
With the province having registered 20 initiates deaths this season, Embo Madoda founder Sithembele Yamaphi says he has a solution for the problem.
“We are the solution and we can bring change into the province. In all these years, there has not been a single death in my school and all my initiates eat a balanced diet,” he said.
Yamaphi said he took initiates from all over the country.
“This year I have an initiate who came all the way from North West and another from Durban. These initiates are here to make lifetime friends and family,” Yamaphi said.
According to Yamaphi, carelessness from parents and communities are the reason why initiates die.
“Here, we don’t need monitoring from other people, as we have our own committee which includes people from the village who come here and monitor the situation.
“We had 50 initiates so far (this year) and 14 have gone home and we are left with 36 and the number will go up as there are some that are coming this weekend,” he said.
He said they respect every person’s
culture and beliefs. “We do everything according to every person’s choice,” he said.
“We operate throughout the year and we don’t have a season. If a child
wants to come in April, we are open and we operate right through the year,” Yamaphi said.
This year, Yamaphi working together with Chris Hani District Municipality
executive mayor Lusanda Sizani, helped a 36-year-old go into initiation.
“The initiate had no means of going to the school and we managed to bring him here and do all the necessary things that are required,” he said.
The initiate, speaking to The Rep, said his family could not send him to initiation but with the help of Yamaphi and Sizani he is now happy at Embo Madoda initiation school.
An initiate from Durban and another from North West said they are having a great experience at the school.
“I came all the way from North West not knowing anyone here, but now I have a family in the Eastern Cape.
“All the 36 initiates are like family to me,” the initiate from North West said.
Another initiate said, as a rugby player, he has his own diet which he needs to follow.
“Here I eat what is required of me to eat as a sportsman.
“It is a great experience,” the initiate from Durban said.
Yamaphi said if an initiate was on medication, he allows that initiate to use his medication.
“I make sure that they eat a balanced meal and have all the nutrients that their bodies need.”
When The Rep visited the school on Monday, Yamaphi’s phone kept on ringing as he was called all over Machibini village to do his work as a traditional surgeon.
Climbing hills and experiencing first-hand how Yamaphi performed his job, was an experience for The Rep team, as they were exposed to a day in a traditional surgeon’s world.
After having worked with four initiates, Yamaphi had to travel to Molteno, where he had to work.
Anyone who would like to know more about Yamaphi’s school can contact him on 083-673-5966.