Young boys graduate from Waterberg initiation school as men
Twenty young boys graduated from being boys to men during an initiation graduation at Ga-Kgubudi outside Mokopane in Waterberg District on Saturday.
LIMPOPO – Malesela Scotch Mapokga described those who underwent traditional circumcision as brave and thanked their parents for taking their sons to the traditional initiation school in an era where the majority of people claim to be westernised.
“They get platforms to criticise their roots in the media. People must stop associating initiation schools with bad things or death. People underwent circumcision before our country was westernised, but today our own people have learnt to speak English to please western countries by criticising and exposing the secrets of African culture,” he bemoaned.
He said certain people hate initiation schools with little research being done to substantiate their opinions.
“How can you research when you hate or criticise your subject? My wish is to see the nine South African provinces emulating what we do here in the Waterberg district,” said Mapokga.
“I started running initiation schools in 1984 in Skare Farm in Mokgoopong. This means that community members should respect the culture.
“I’d love to see more community members bring their children to the initiation school next year and the years after that. What is important is to teach them morals.
“We didn’t anticipate any problems and parents shouldn’t be afraid to send their boys to undergo traditional circumcision.
“I don’t circumcise boys to be famous, mine is part of family rituals. I apply for a permit to open an initiation school each year,” he concluded.
Tshegofatso Leseba Mpete from Vaal in Gauteng said he made this decision because he did not want to remain a boy while his friends became men.
He said he had always wanted to go through the Northern Sotho initiation ritual.
“I was not afraid. I told myself that I could do it, even though some people criticised me and other intiates,” he said.
