A man is not a man if he cannot stand the trial of initiation school

Abstract

Abstract provided by author

This paper deal with the cultural practice of initiation school, because this practice reflects on the values and beliefs held by the different cultural communities within South Africa, mainly the Xhosa-community. Every social grouping in the world has specific traditional cultural practices and beliefs, and South African communities are not different in this respect. In South Africa, traditional practices such as initiation have been practised by our ancestors since time immemorial and were passed on from one generation to the next. The whole ritual will be outlined in the paper as well as the significance of this cultural practice, in addition it will also be reflected that there is no legislation that regulates the ritual of initiation school and how this in turn violates the rights of the initiates. Finally, in this paper it will also be reflected on what can be done in order for this ritual to become lawful, so that the rights of the initiates are no longer violated. Notice should also be taken of the fact that there is legal initiation schools (which is schools that is recognised by the traditional communities, because the conductors of such schools comply with the requirements set out in the Application of Health Standards in Traditional Circumcision (Eastern Cape) Act 6 of 2001) and there is illegal initiation schools (which is schools that is not recognised, because it do not comply with the Act.) However, can it be said at the same time that even though initiation schools is legal or illegal, the whole ritual of initiation school is unlawful, due to the fact that there is no legislation in place that regulate this cultural practice