4 days ago
Oscar Mabuyane should be praised for putting family first
Every year, young boys undergoing the rite of passage to manhood — ulwaluko or traditional initiation sadly die in their dozens in the Eastern Cape.
At least 28 boys died during the 2024 summer season in the Eastern Cape while undergoing the sacred ritual.
One death is one too many, especially no-one should die while undergoing the rite of passage to manhood.
Every year, we hear the same message from traditional leaders, politicians, religious leaders, civil society organisation leaders: families should not abdicate their responsibility but play an active role during this month-long period.
This means fathers, guardians, uncles and other men should spend time with initiates instead of leaving that to amakhankatha or traditional nurses.
This is because in some cases, initiates are deprived of water and die from dehydration.
Others are assaulted, tortured, raped, maimed or killed by those who seek to bring the old age rite of passage to manhood into disrepute.
Granted, some boys — particularly those younger than 18 years go to illegal initiation school and sadly die for various reasons.
Every responsible person — man or woman is always sickened and saddened by the passing of initiates.
Newspapers carry such stories almost daily during the initiation seasons.
With each headline or news article, the death toll rises.
We all condemn the deaths and call for more action.
Crucial to this are men who have undergone this important rite visiting initiates.
Ideally, fathers, guardians or uncles must take time out from work to be with their sons.
This is crucial as no-one would dare abuse an initiate, starve them, or deprive them water when their father is with them or visit daily.
That is exactly what premier Oscar Mabuyane has done.
He took leave so that he can be with his two sons who are undergoing traditional initiation.
For the premier, he is mostly away from his family, criss-crossing the province and country while discharging his duties.
Whenever he is away with government work, I assume his wife is taking care of their family.
But now his wife cannot be there for their two sons, so the premier must be there for them.
One might argue that the premier should have tasked a family member to spend time with his boys at the initiation school.
However, during this period, his sons need a familiar face.
A friendly face. Mabuyane is that face.
No other man knows his sons better than he does.
