Women traditional leaders speak out against initiation deaths.
QUEENS and women traditional leaders in the Eastern Cape have broken their silence on the initiation as the death toll climbs to 35.
More than 500 initiates have died while undergoing the traditional rite over the last eight years, prompting mothers to speak out.
Queen MaDosini Ndamase, newly elected president of Imbumba Yamakhosikazi Akomkhulu (IYA), emerged as one of the vocal critics.
IYA is a forum of queens and traditional leaders’ wives.
“If it were women who were attending to the initiates in traditional initiation schools, there could be no deaths,” said the queen.
“We carry our sons for nine months, raise them for 18 years or so and within three days or eight days in the hands of men, they die. We cannot keep quiet while this happens.”
IYA held a meeting in Mthatha on Friday July 11 where they resolved to escalate their concerns, in the hope that it stop the deaths of their children.
Female traditional leaders are demanding to be part of strategies to curb deaths and for their inputs to be respected and implemented.
A resolution supported by the IYA during its gathering was the introduction of male medical circumcision (MMC) in problem areas.
It could, however, put the women at odds with kings, male traditional leaders and the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders (ECHTL) who have been vehemently opposed to the medical practice.
Ndamase said: “MMC can be a real solution in those areas and we support the idea.
“They must however infuse the traditional element of teaching them how to be responsible and accountable men within the society. We don’t want the traditional element of this to be lost.”
IYA chairwoman Nkosikazi Nosandi Mhlauli said women demanded to have their voices heard.
“We cannot keep quiet while our sons die and the nation perishes.”
The women said men needed to take full responsibility to look after initiates.
“Currently it seems that there is no commitment by traditional leaders themselves on the matter. The initiates, our sons, continue to die under their noses and it’s the same story every season,” said Mhlauli.
She said the registration of boys who go to initiation schools must be done only at great places and traditional leaders should personally supervise the process. Currently, initiates can also register at health centres.
AbaThembu Queen Nokwanda Dalindyebo said she was disappointed by poor participation of traditional leaders.
She also suggested the establishment of male clinics where those going to the bush could be examined and treated.
Ndamase, Mhlauli, Dalindyebo and Eastern Pondoland Queen MaSobhuza Sigcau also expressed concern at the low conviction rate and arrests of offenders.
Princess Wezizwe, speaking on behalf of Sigcau, said: “Something seriously needs to be done about this ritual.
“In some areas it is diluted and other tribes are copying rituals of others going with initiation. Traditional leaders and elderly men must be hands on and not leave it to youngsters. We must ask ourselves why these boys die.”
ECHTL chairman Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima and Contralesa secretary-general Chief Xolile Ndevu said women had an important role to play in the rite.
“It is natural that mothers always feel the pain and respond more than men. These are their sons and they have a role to play in their initiation. We appreciate their effort to make a difference,” said Matanzima.
He said female members of the ECHTL were deployed in the Mbizana area to speak to community members, focusing mostly on women being present before the start of the season.
“We will also involve them going around traditional councils to hear what initiation problems they are faced with.”
However, Matanzima said the ECHTL was yet to take a stand on the proposal of MMC.
“We appreciate the involvement of women, but while we support medical intervention on initiates, we don’t support MMC as Contralesa,” said Ndevu. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
‘In the hands of men they die'
QUEENS and women traditional leaders in the Eastern Cape have broken their silence on the initiation as the death toll climbs to 35.
More than 500 initiates have died while undergoing the traditional rite over the last eight years, prompting mothers to speak out.
Queen MaDosini Ndamase, newly elected president of Imbumba Yamakhosikazi Akomkhulu (IYA), emerged as one of the vocal critics.
IYA is a forum of queens and traditional leaders’ wives.
“If it were women who were attending to the initiates in traditional initiation schools, there could be no deaths,” said the queen.
“We carry our sons for nine months, raise them for 18 years or so and within three days or eight days in the hands of men, they die. We cannot keep quiet while this happens.”
IYA held a meeting in Mthatha on Friday July 11 where they resolved to escalate their concerns, in the hope that it stop the deaths of their children.
Female traditional leaders are demanding to be part of strategies to curb deaths and for their inputs to be respected and implemented.
A resolution supported by the IYA during its gathering was the introduction of male medical circumcision (MMC) in problem areas.
It could, however, put the women at odds with kings, male traditional leaders and the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders (ECHTL) who have been vehemently opposed to the medical practice.
Ndamase said: “MMC can be a real solution in those areas and we support the idea.
“They must however infuse the traditional element of teaching them how to be responsible and accountable men within the society. We don’t want the traditional element of this to be lost.”
IYA chairwoman Nkosikazi Nosandi Mhlauli said women demanded to have their voices heard.
“We cannot keep quiet while our sons die and the nation perishes.”
The women said men needed to take full responsibility to look after initiates.
“Currently it seems that there is no commitment by traditional leaders themselves on the matter. The initiates, our sons, continue to die under their noses and it’s the same story every season,” said Mhlauli.
She said the registration of boys who go to initiation schools must be done only at great places and traditional leaders should personally supervise the process. Currently, initiates can also register at health centres.
AbaThembu Queen Nokwanda Dalindyebo said she was disappointed by poor participation of traditional leaders.
She also suggested the establishment of male clinics where those going to the bush could be examined and treated.
Ndamase, Mhlauli, Dalindyebo and Eastern Pondoland Queen MaSobhuza Sigcau also expressed concern at the low conviction rate and arrests of offenders.
Princess Wezizwe, speaking on behalf of Sigcau, said: “Something seriously needs to be done about this ritual.
“In some areas it is diluted and other tribes are copying rituals of others going with initiation. Traditional leaders and elderly men must be hands on and not leave it to youngsters. We must ask ourselves why these boys die.”
ECHTL chairman Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima and Contralesa secretary-general Chief Xolile Ndevu said women had an important role to play in the rite.
“It is natural that mothers always feel the pain and respond more than men. These are their sons and they have a role to play in their initiation. We appreciate their effort to make a difference,” said Matanzima.
He said female members of the ECHTL were deployed in the Mbizana area to speak to community members, focusing mostly on women being present before the start of the season.
“We will also involve them going around traditional councils to hear what initiation problems they are faced with.”
However, Matanzima said the ECHTL was yet to take a stand on the proposal of MMC.
“We appreciate the involvement of women, but while we support medical intervention on initiates, we don’t support MMC as Contralesa,” said Ndevu. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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