House of Traditional Leaders praises 2016 Koma season

Celebrations were at the order of the day across the province on Saturday when nearly 15 000 initiates were welcomed and descended on their respective homes at the end of this year’s koma season. Despite the deaths of two initiates, one in Modimolle and another in Tzaneen, marring the much desired zero death statistics, Malesela Dikgale, …

July 21, 2016

2 minutes read

Celebrations were at the order of the day across the province on Saturday when nearly 15 000 initiates were welcomed and descended on their respective homes at the end of this year’s koma season.
Despite the deaths of two initiates, one in Modimolle and another in Tzaneen, marring the much desired zero death statistics, Malesela Dikgale, Chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders, said they were satisfied with the outcome.
Reflecting on the two fatalities he said: “Our hearts are still with their families. We don’t want to see any death next year.”
Dikgale stated that they had a bumpy start to the season but were able to find their track along the way. “We had lots of illegal initiation schools when we started but we managed to curb them. We had traditional leaders who did not want to cooperate but we managed to deal with them. Again credit must go to all our stakeholders, the South African Police Service and Department of Health for ensuring that everything is under control,” Dikgale said.
The 325 legally operated initiation schools in the province successfully managed to take 14 800 entrants through the age old processes associated with the tradition of initiation into manhood.
Dikgale congratulated Johannes Makgaba, 94, owner of the initiation school in Sebayeng village, Ga-Dikgale area on the wonderful Koma season he had. “He is one of the oldest citizens running an initiation school this year. We need more people like him. Nowadays young people are running initiation schools and they are not responsible enough. Some don’t know what they are doing. We want them to learn from people like Makgaba because they are old enough and experienced to run initiation schools,” Dikgale stated at the arrival ceremony for initiates at Sebayeng village on Saturday.

Caregivers of the initiates celebrate the end of the initiation season and their safe return home.

Initiates covered in clay and warm blankets.

An excited community member ululates during the arrival of the initiates at the Makgaba Royal Kraal. On her left is the principal of the school, Johannes Makgaba.

Caregivers celebrate the arrival of the initiates.

Initiates line up at the Makgaba Royal Kraal.

Two initiates eagerly await the moment when they are allowed to go home. Right: Initiates show off their traditional, clay covered sticks known as lekgai. — Two initiates eagerly await the moment when they are allowed to go home.

Initiates wait to be released in an open space in the bush.

Malesela Dikgale, Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders prepares to address the new initiates before they disperse to their homes.

Initiates enter the Makgaba Royal Kraal.

Initiates in jovial mood gathered in a designated open space on the final day.

Initiates receive a final word from Malesela Dikgale, Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders.

“Makgaba was exemplary because he had 510 initiates at his school and all of them came back unscathed and healthy,” added Dikgale.
He also urged the initiates to respect their parents and peers and not be swayed by fact that they have been initiated and are therefore regarded as men. “I want them to still be the people they were before they were initiated. They must go to school and study. They must respect their parents because some no longer do that after coming back from initiation schools,” Dikgale stressed.
Makgaba who has been running the school for more than 50 years said he was happy that all initiates arrived at their homes in good health. “As the owner of the school I am extremely happy that everything went as planned. This was the lowest number I have ever had as an owner. In 2009 I had 2 810 initiates at the school and in 2012 there were 1 800. We did not have any deaths. We want to keep things this way in the years to come,” Makgaba said.
Her granddaughter, Nkekele Makgaba said she was happy with the achievement of her grandfather. “He has been running the initiation school for years and we have never had any death case. I am pleased that he delivered another successful season.”

Story: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za
Photos: Herbert Rachuene / RC Myburgh / Yolande Nel

Featured photo: Initiates smeared with red clay.