EVERY YEAR, young men from different provinces in Mzansi embark on a journey to the mountains for circumcision, marking their initiation into manhood.
But the 2024 initiation season faces a delay due to the upcoming national and provincial elections.
The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) chairman in Mpumalanga, Mathupa Lameck Mokoena, announced the postponement of the winter initiation season until after the elections.
The decision was made to ensure that initiates registered to vote don’t miss out on this important experience.
"Some of the boys are looking forward to voting for the first time," Mokoena said.
He emphasized the importance of not depriving them of their voting rights due to the absence of special voting provisions in the mountains. The general elections are scheduled for Wednesday, 29 May.
The initiation was originally set to commence at the start of May, and the initiation season's delay calls for cooperation from parents and traditional leaders across other provinces.
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Mpumalanga, known for its safety record during initiation seasons in recent years, attributes this success to close collaboration with healthcare professionals. Mokoena highlighted the province's proactive approach, with doctors readily available for emergencies.
He further urged other provinces to adopt similar measures, allowing medical intervention in the mountains if necessary. Despite the postponement, the Customary Initiation Act mandates that initiation seasons align with provincial school holidays, avoiding disruption to academic schedules.
Spokesperson for the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in Gauteng, Tsekiso Machike clarified that the ministry had not been informed of any changes to the 2024 winter initiation season for school-going children.
According to Machike, the Act empowers Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committees (PICC) to oversee initiation practices, including scheduling for those who have completed secondary education.
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