In a move that epitomises the old adage 'it takes the whole village to raise a child', residents of Kwandancama Location in Fingo made sure a boy's need to go through the passage to manhood was realised.
In a move that epitomises the old adage 'it takes the whole village to raise a child', residents of Kwandancama Location in Fingo made sure a boy's need to go through the passage to manhood was realised.
Bulelani Mankayi, 18, was on the brink of being stuck in initiation school because his unemployed single father could not afford to buy the celebratory clothing and pay for the costly home-coming ceremony.
Speaking to Grocott's Mail on Thurday 22 January the soft-spoken Nathaniel Nyaluza pupil acknowledged the support from his community.
"I feel grateful and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who supported me," Mankayi said.
Donations from the community included shoes, jacket, socks, cap, trousers, underwear and T-shirts.
Mankayi said his mother had left him and his father when he was at an early age.
His father, Mxolisi Mankayi, also thanked the community of KwaNdancama.
"I was struggling and if it wasn't for them, the boy would've stayed at bush for a long period until I managed to get all the money," he said.
The ceremony, made possible by caring residents, was held at Bulelani's father's Extension 6 home on 10 January.
KwaNdancama is where Bulelani grew up, living with a relative.
There has been public outcry about the rising costs of initiation. Some people accuse traditional surgeons of regarding the custom as a trade instead of a duty.
Chief Phathekile Holomisa, President of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, lambasted traditional surgeons for commercialising circumcision rituals.
Across national media in November 2013, he said traditional surgeons were just in it for the money.
In December 2013, Grocott's Mail interviewe an Extension 6 mother who gave us a detailed list of expenses for sending a boy "to the mountain", as it is termed. Mother of four, Beauty Mzizi Dyakala, told Grocott's Mail that the following were non-negotiable. * Two goats must be bought for slaughtering and eating – each animal costs R1 200. * Three bottles of brandy (R110 each) – one is drunk in the bush after the initiate's hut has been built. The second, once initiates return home… the third is for the men who burn down the initiate's hut. * Groceries for a special diet (R900). * Traditional attire amounting to about R340.
Dyakala says the lavish umgidi (coming-home) ceremony ups the initiation bill – but budgets differ from family to family, depending on their taste and the depth of their pockets.
This can involve a minimum of two cases of brandy (R900 each), food for guests, and special ingredients for umqombothi (traditional beer).
Finally, all an initiate's old clothes must be given away and an entire new wardrobe must be bought.
