THE Xhosa tradition of ulwaluko is plagued by numerous problems.
Authorities say drastic changes are in the pipeline to remedy the situation.
On Wednesday, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Yolwaluko Forum held a special meeting at Daku Community Hall in KwaZakhele, Port Elizabeth, to discuss how to prevent initiate deaths.
The meeting was attended by traditional leaders, iingcibi, amakhankatha, police and health officials.
Worried leaders said the problem lies with fake iingcibi, unruly initiates and women who cheat the culture.
Pula Lonake, chairman of the forum, told Daily Sun: “We are investigating an allegedly fake ingcibi who has circumcised a number young boys from Booysen Park.
“Heads will roll if we discover that his name is not on our data base of iingcibi.”
Lonake added that a 17-year-old boy from KwaZakhele was circumcised by an unknown ingcibi.
“This happened after the boy was rejected by two experienced iingcibi. His aunt gave the unknown man the go ahead.”
Women were also lambasted at the meeting for being disrespectful.
“Women are not allowed near abakhwetha but AmaHlubi women recently invaded the initiates’ area. This act caused a lot of tension between AmaHlubi and AmaXhosa initiates in Walmer kasi. Luckily we managed to resolve the misunderstanding,” said Lonake.
Amagqunukhwebe chief Bonisile Gqamane said: “Women have a role to play but they must stay away from circumcision affairs. They know very well that this subject is out of bounds.”
