A total of 46 male initiates have returned home safely after the Hlongwane Initiation School in Mamelodi successfully guided them through the traditional rite of passage to manhood.

The initiation school, which began on May 8, concluded on July 17 with the safe return of all initiates to their families.

Chief Medupi described the season as a success, attributing it to the support and co-operation of parents, the police, the Department of Health, the traditional council and other stakeholders.

“We are grateful to the parents for trusting us with the lives of their children. We also thank the Police, the Department of Health, the traditional council and everyone else who contributed to the success of this year’s initiation school,” he said.

Chief Medupi said the school focused not only on cultural traditions but also on developing responsible young men who would make positive contributions to their communities.

“The most important lesson we wanted the boys to take home is respect – respect for their parents, elders, teachers and every member of society. We taught them that becoming a man also means becoming a responsible and accountable member of the community.”

He said Hlongwane Initiation School seeks to challenge the negative perceptions often associated with initiation schools by promoting discipline, respect, and positive behaviour.

“Initiation schools are sometimes associated with negative behaviour, but at our school, we teach the boys to uphold respect, discipline, and good values at all times. Through mentorship from elders, we prepare them for adulthood by instilling accountability, cultural values, and leadership.”

Medupi said initiates were also taught about their culture, traditions, and how to conduct themselves with dignity and responsibility in their communities.

He added that one of the highlights of this year’s initiation season was seeing many initiates make positive changes in their personal lives.

“I am especially proud that through our teachings, we encouraged some of the boys to return to school, while others went back to work. Some parents have personally thanked us because their sons, who had previously dropped out of school, have returned to the classroom. I have even met some of them in their school uniforms.”

According to Medupi, some initiates who had struggled with substance abuse have also committed themselves to changing their lives.

“Some of the young men who were using drugs have decided to turn their lives around. That makes me proud because, in addition to teaching culture and tradition, we are equipping these young men with life skills that will help them become better citizens.”

He said the school experienced no major challenges during the initiation season, thanks to the co-operation between traditional leaders, government departments, law enforcement, and parents.

Medupi encouraged parents to ensure their children attend only registered initiation schools.

“For the safety of every child, parents must choose registered initiation schools and ensure they sign the required consent forms. Registered schools follow the correct procedures to protect the health and wellbeing of initiates.”

He explained that traditional leaders play an important role in safeguarding initiation practices by preserving cultural heritage, approving legitimate schools, ensuring medical screening takes place, and working with law enforcement to shut down illegal operations.

“All our initiates underwent medical screening before the initiation process to identify any underlying health conditions or chronic illnesses. This helps ensure that every initiate is medically fit before entering the school.”

Medupi concluded by thanking the traditional surgeons, elders, community members and all stakeholders who contributed to the successful completion of the initiation season.

“We are grateful to everyone who played a role in ensuring that all 46 initiates returned home safely. It was truly a collective effort, and we are proud of what these young men have achieved.”

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