In trying to instill a sense of responsibility and build better men, a group of amakrwala converged at Nomzamo Community Hall on Saturday 18 February for an empowerment session.
The event was organised by Khwezi Clinic, which examined most of them ahead of their journey to manhood.
The purpose of the gathering was to empower and encourage young men to be pioneers of change in their communities.
With many social ills such as rape, alcohol abuse and drugs, gender-based violence (GBV) and teenage pregnancy, it is hoped that these young men will play a positive role in society to ensure these come to an end.
Event organiser and nurse at the clinic Sylvia Mzinyathi said they saw a need to invite these young men to empower them.
“Government guidelines stipulate that young boys, before undergoing circumcision, first need to visit their health centre for a check-up.
“It is there where we pick up if they would need any assistance or be in a better position to advise amakhankatha that will be looking after these boys,” she said.
“Esikufunayo kukubabona besiya bephila baze baphinde babuye bephila. Now that they are back, they need to know they have a responsibility to be better men and not burden the same society with the challenges it already faces,” said Mzinyathi.
She said young men should stop being “ignorant” and society needs to support them.
“Daily, we encounter young men who contract STIs and HIV while we know condoms are available.
“So, want them to build a nation that is responsible in every action they do going forward,” she said.
Mzinyathi said young girls are impregnated by these young men and some social ills are also committed by them.
She urged them to move away from the actions of absent parents as this also impacts negatively on children growing up with a father figure in their lives.
Xolani Diniso, Ward 85 councillor, thanked the parents for allowing their children to be part of this “nation-building initiative”.
“These are leaders of tomorrow that we need to mould and empower so that they contribute positively to society. We also thank them for coming out and listening to different speakers with the hope they have heard and internalised what was said,” said Diniso.
He said this was a start of a process of ploughing seeds for positive change in society in the near future.