Rosettenville and Turffontein based Izkhothane dressing to impress
Skhothanes are known for tearing and burning their expensive clothes to prove to the public they have money to spend.
WEARING expensive and luxury clothes is what Young Material Culture (YMC) is famously known for.
The Rosettenville and Turffontein based skhothanes (meaning ‘Licking’) paraded the streets of Rosettenville, The Hill and surrounding areas while playing loud music and dancing at every stop street or traffic light on August 17.
One of the leaders Bruce ‘Golden Wodumo’ Mncube (17) said spring has arrived so the time of izikhothane to shine again has arrived. Skhothanes are known for tearing and burning their expensive clothes to prove to the public they have money to spend.
But Mncube told the COURIER they don’t tear or burn clothes. Their motto is dress to impress but dress expensively.
“We dress in clothes which are expensive because people will take us serious and respect us.
“We are parading the streets today because we want people to know we are back.
“Most people love our style and the way we conduct ourselves. It’s only a few people in South Africa that aren’t fond of izikhothane,” said Golden Wodumo.
YMC crew said most youngsters in the area have given their lives to drugs and crime, but to try and save themselves from that they choose to be izikhothane.
YMC is inspired by King Don who is seen as the king of skhothane in South Africa.
Big savers, big spenders
Junior ‘Njandini’ Mavuso (19), one of the YMC members, said they aren’t from the privileged families.
The money to buy these clothes comes from their savings because they save whatever money they can.
They sell sweets, biscuits and snacks at school to be able to buy clothes.
“We have about 25 members and every week from our school allowance we save R20 and every Saturday we meet to combine our money and go deposit it.
“We are still young. We need to enjoy our youth days before we grow old,” said Njandini.
YMC members claim their parents are in full support of what they are doing and some parents do give them money to buy skhothane clothes. YMC’s leader Wodumo concluded by saying you aren’t a true skhothane if your parents don’t approve your skhothaneness.
Did you know?
• Izikhothane started in the early 2000s.
• Katlehong is the first place to establish izikhothane.
• Sula Africa is the place which every izikhothane attends once a year to showcase his/her expensive wearing.
• Izikhothane only dresses in Italian clothes.
• Izikhothane love dancing.
