UNDERPRIVILEDGED "boys" from around Cape Town who were taken to the mountain for their initiation rite of passage have returned to their homes on Thursday afternoon, 14 December.
This was thanks to the Somagwaza Institute, who listened to their cries and took them to the mountain free of charge.
The oldest of those who went to the mountain was 59-year-old madala followed by 53-year-old Mandla Cukutu. Hundreds of people stormed the streets of Gugulethu as they welcomed the initiates back home.
Somagwaza Institute chairman Sikelela "Ndlovu" Zokufa told Daily Sun that his organisation took 41 initiates whose families were unable to take them to the mountain due financial constraints, among other things. Zokufa said among the 41 initiates there is one who was living with a disability. He said all of the initiates made it out alive and in good health. They were welcomed by their families.
"They're now back to the community. We believe that going forward, they'll live their lives with dignity without anyone undermining them. We're happy that they came back, the 41 of them, healthily," said Zokufa.
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He said for the process to be a success, he and some of his team members ended up taking money from their own pockets to ensure initiates underwent their initiation rites smoothly.
Luvo Timla (27), who benefited from Somagwaza in 2022, was part of the group of people who went to the streets to welcome the initiates.
"I was with Somagwaza last year and today I'm here to celebrate with the initiates because I know how life was before I went to the mountain. There were places I was unable to enter but now I'm a man like everyone else," said Luvo.
Bandile Vena, whose two nephews underwent the initiation, said he doesn't know what life would have been without Somagwaza.
"These boys were raised by their mother, who is unemployed. There was no way they were going to get money to go for initiation. Somagwaza has helped us. It removed a huge burden from our shoulders," said Vena.
According to Zokufa, taking a boy to initiation school costs between R20 000 and R40 000 which is why it is difficult for some families to take their children to the mountain.
Zokufa said they didn't have funding for helping the boys, but they always asked the public for help.
