Tears of joy flowed from the eyes of an elderly Debe Nek father as his disabled son graduated from a traditional initiation school at Nomzamo Care Centre in Peddie yesterday.
“If I die now I die happy,” said Thobile Namba, 71. “My son became a man. He has his dignity as a Xhosa male. We are all proud.”
Namba’s son Lizo Namba, 40, was one of eight disabled initiates who graduated at Nomzamo Care Centre For the Disabled yesterday. They are all residents there. Seven are wheelchair-bound and have mental disabilities.
The circumcision and the initiation was organised and funded by the centre.
Most of the family members at the ceremony were aunts and uncles as few of the initiates have parents.
Namba said his son was born normal but at six years he started with epileptic fits and two years later could no longer speak or walk.
“He never went to school and at some stage I thought he would die. But God kept him alive and now he is 40 and a man,” said Namba.
He only became aware of the centre in January.
“I was shocked and baffled when the centre approached me to say that they had identified Lizo to undergo the rite. First I was reluctant fearing that he may be one of the initiates who died. I did not want to lose him. But I was convinced and gave my blessing,” he said.
They were circumcised by Dr Wonga Madywabe, the coordinator of the male medical circumcision programme at Nompumelelo Hospital, adjacent to the centre.
After the procedure they were taken to an initiation school where centre worker Qinisile Fukweni, 65, a traditional nurse, looked after them with Mdywabe visiting.
Namba, who travelled from Debe Nek to Peddie with family, said he never thought his son would undergo the rite because of his disability.
“I wish his mother, my wife, was still alive to witness this with me,” he said, crying and hugging his son.
Nomzamo Centre board chairman Dr Sox Leleki said the ages of the initiates ranged from 18 to 40.
The centre, started in 1994, cares for 72 disabled people.
“We took it as a responsibility of the centre to ensure that they exercise their cultural values and practices. Circumcision and initiation forms part of the Xhosa custom,” said Leleki.
He said this was the second group to undergo the rite, with the first group of four boys done in 2012.
“The centre could not have done this without the permission of the parents and the guardians.”
The newly graduated initiates received presents of blankets and cold drinks from the Ngqushwa municipality, Lilitha Nursing College, parents and other stakeholders. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Disabled 8 graduate as men
“If I die now I die happy,” said Thobile Namba, 71. “My son became a man. He has his dignity as a Xhosa male. We are all proud.”
Namba’s son Lizo Namba, 40, was one of eight disabled initiates who graduated at Nomzamo Care Centre For the Disabled yesterday. They are all residents there. Seven are wheelchair-bound and have mental disabilities.
The circumcision and the initiation was organised and funded by the centre.
Most of the family members at the ceremony were aunts and uncles as few of the initiates have parents.
Namba said his son was born normal but at six years he started with epileptic fits and two years later could no longer speak or walk.
“He never went to school and at some stage I thought he would die. But God kept him alive and now he is 40 and a man,” said Namba.
He only became aware of the centre in January.
“I was shocked and baffled when the centre approached me to say that they had identified Lizo to undergo the rite. First I was reluctant fearing that he may be one of the initiates who died. I did not want to lose him. But I was convinced and gave my blessing,” he said.
They were circumcised by Dr Wonga Madywabe, the coordinator of the male medical circumcision programme at Nompumelelo Hospital, adjacent to the centre.
After the procedure they were taken to an initiation school where centre worker Qinisile Fukweni, 65, a traditional nurse, looked after them with Mdywabe visiting.
Namba, who travelled from Debe Nek to Peddie with family, said he never thought his son would undergo the rite because of his disability.
“I wish his mother, my wife, was still alive to witness this with me,” he said, crying and hugging his son.
Nomzamo Centre board chairman Dr Sox Leleki said the ages of the initiates ranged from 18 to 40.
The centre, started in 1994, cares for 72 disabled people.
“We took it as a responsibility of the centre to ensure that they exercise their cultural values and practices. Circumcision and initiation forms part of the Xhosa custom,” said Leleki.
He said this was the second group to undergo the rite, with the first group of four boys done in 2012.
“The centre could not have done this without the permission of the parents and the guardians.”
The newly graduated initiates received presents of blankets and cold drinks from the Ngqushwa municipality, Lilitha Nursing College, parents and other stakeholders. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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