Passage to manhood

Both health authorities and traditional health practitioners have expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the winter initiation school season.

Limpopo House of Traditional Health Practitioners leading light, Dr Mahlasela Thomas Maluleka, on Monday 23 July said the province continued to be exemplary in terms of relations between the Department of Health, communities and initiation schools.

Waterberg District Health Department co-ordinator, Mr Peter Kolobe, said that at conclusion of the initiation season, the authorities were confident of future good working relations.

“We are looking forward to improved relations in the future,” he said.

Speaking in his capacity as principal of an initiation school, Maluleka said he presided over the initiation of a total of 80 initiates from Modimolle and Vaalwater.

A total of 28 female graduates from both Modimolle and Vaalwater were also welcomed back home with song and dance.

With regards to the broader picture of the traditional initiation season, Maluleka said the traditional institutions were criticised unfairly, especially on the heated debate around youngsters
who chose to defy their parents and avail themselves to an initiation school.

“More often than not youngsters seek permission from their parents to attend an initiation school. Often when the parents refuse to grant permission, some boys and even girls would defy the parents and avail themselves for initiation,” he explained.

Maluleka said the challenge here was that any individual who deliberately exposed themselves to the often secretive nature of such institutions, could not easily be allowed to leave.

He added, however, under such circum-stances negotiations would commence between the initiation school authorities and the parents concerned, to find solutions acceptable to both parties.

“When a youngster decides to undergo initiation without having prior consent from his or her parents, we find ourselves in a difficult situation. The first step in that case would be to
communicate with the parents or guardian and find an amicable solution,” he said.

Maluleka said they had a few cases where parents had to be consulted after their children attempted to enrol themselves without consent, and fortunately a solution was reached.

“We appreciate the support from the authorities in ensuring that all the initiates are taken care of, and also return home in good health,” Maluleka told The BEAT.

Maluleka said the Department of Health played a crucial role in monitoring the health and nutritional needs of the initiates.

He also acknowledged the role played by the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) and the Waterberg District Municipality throughout the initiation period.

— The BEAT