- The Somagwaza Institute has moved swiftly to allay fears amid pending the construction of temporary housing units closer to an initiation site
- Prasa recently started with groundwork closer to the site that has been used for many years as an initiation spot, raising concerns about the safety.
- Sikelela Zokufa co-founder of the Institute said that the construction would not affect their work, nor the initiates.
The Somagwaza Institute has moved swiftly to allay fears amid pending the construction of temporary housing units closer to the initiation site adjacent to the Joe Gqabi railway station.
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) recently started with groundwork closer to the site that has been used for many years as an initiation spot, raising concerns about the safety of the initiates and a threat to the tradition of ulwaluko.
However, Sikelela Zokufa co-founder of the Institute, was quick to point out that the construction would not affect their work, nor the initiates. He said that the government would be building temporary housing units to accommodate people living along Philippi and Langa railway lines.
He stated that the project had nothing to do with them. “The development is far away from where we are working. Our initiates’ huts do not stretch that far. We never utilised that land,” explained Zokufa. He stated that there was an agreement with Prasa to fence the vacant land for residents not to encroach.
“The land that we utilise belongs to Eskom. We have a lease agreement with Eskom to utilise the land. Our initiates are safe there,” he stated.
Zokufa urged parents who registered their children for initiation during summer holidays to bring them.
Prasa spokesperson Andiswa Makanda confirmed that Prasa will fence its land so that people do not encroach on the initiation site.