Despite concerns raised by some motorists and residents over yet another year of summer initiation practices on an open field near the Bo Dal Road in Paarl, the Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport Department this week spoke in favour of these practices and says it is in consultation with various stakeholders to ensure initiations in Paarl are done in a safe and dignified manner.
The use of an open field next to Bo Dal Road near Newton for summer initiation by the local Xhosa community has this year again caused a great deal of uproar among especially motorists and some nearby residents.
As a cultural rite of passage male initiation illustrates the transition from boyhood to manhood.
There has, however, been complaints over sections of the Bo Dal Road being obstructed by stationary vehicles at times, the alleged lack of proper ablution facilities and the dangers posed by open fires.
In 2022 the Drakenstein Municipality confirmed that the piece of land, where since the start of November several temporary informal structures has been erected, belongs to the municipality.
At the time it said meetings are held annually between itself and the Boland Mbekweni Initiation Commission to discuss various elements of the initiation seasons.
The municipality this year, however, referred Paarl Post to the provincial Cultural Affairs and Sports Department, whose spokesperson Tania Colyn said: “The department has been in contact with the municipality regarding the matters raised and, as far as we are aware, some of these have been resolved.”
She said open fires are part of the initiation tradition.
“We have provided training on Fire and Environmental management to the caregivers, and we also provide sites with fire extinguishers.
“The Initiation Programme is managed according to the Customary Initiation Act (Act 2 of 2021).
“Section 18 provides that municipalities must provide services including land, drinking water, sanitation and waste removal. The initiation site needs to be rezoned and be part of the spatial planning of the municipality and must be included in the IDP processes for the site to be serviced accordingly.”
Colyn said the municipality may conclude a formal agreement with the department to gain support on some of the above matters.
“The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport is committed to ensuring that initiation is done in a safe and dignified manner in our province, and we will continue working with municipalities to ensure that this practice continues safely.”
Paarl Post understands that initiation camps are hosted twice a year with winter initiations taking place from June to August and summer initiations from November to January.
