While the search for the bodies of two young initiates believed to have drowned in KwaBhaca continues, 33 initiates who attended the same initiation school were greeted with cheers and ululation by their families after graduating this past weekend.
But some of the other traditional activities like stick-fighting, as well as the days of partying and drinking, were limited and there were no overnight celebrations, out of respect for the missing initiates and their families, Chani community leader and sub-headman Luyolo Maxoki said.
“This is the first time we've heard of initiates drowning in my village. We have not had deaths or injuries before.”
One of the missing initiates is Iyazi Diko, 19, a prince of AmaBhaca and cousin of the late AmaBhaca leader Nkosi Thandisizwe.
Diko is from Ncunteni village in KwaBhaca. The other missing initiate is Bheki Madontsela-Manqindi, 19, of Mhlanga village in Mbizana.
They were swept away by the rushing Umzimvubu River last Wednesday while washing themselves in preparation for their Friday graduation.
Bonginkozi Zwelithini Mlenzana, owner of the initiation school in Chani village, who is also usosuthu (the initiation hosting family) said the presumed drownings had upset them.
The community had come together to discuss how best to respect the missing initiates but still celebrate those who had graduated.
Those who were involved said this was a sensitive issue as it involved death, culture and custom, all of which needed to be respectfully observed.
As the chanting 33 initiates, painted in red ochre and wearing only loincloths, marched away from the burning initiation lodges at the foot of the mountain to Mlenzana's home, women ululated.
Mlenzana’s son Xolile, one of the initiates, was given a spear by his father to first prick the cow before it was slaughtered. A black cow was chosen out of respect for the missing men.
Mlenzana has run the school since 2002.
I’ve had no injuries, no deaths, and this one came as a shock. It was difficult for me to look into the faces of the families and tell them their sons had drowned
“I’ve had no injuries, no deaths, and this one came as a shock. It was difficult for me to look into the faces of the families and tell them their sons had drowned.”
Mlenzana’s initiation school is popular among AmaMpondo in Mbizana and Flagstaff as parents avoid the schools in Mpondoland with their high level of deaths and injuries.
“They trust me and each season I have more than 20 AmaMpondo boys sent by their parents to be initiated here at my school.”
Madontsela-Manqindi’s cousin Asiphe Manqindi has been staying at Mlezana's home since the tragedy.
“Every morning I have joined the search party looking for the two initiates. I cannot go home to Mbizana without finding this body. I must go home with his body. We blame nobody for this incident, as it is God's will. But the same God must help us find the bodies.”
The search will continue on Tuesday with police and other units taking part.
The initiation death toll in the Eastern Cape is increasing.
So far there have been 15 deaths, excluding the two missing initiates.
The 2022 summer initiation season was opened on November 4 by Cogta MEC Zolile Williams and Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders chair Nkosi Mpumalanga Gwadiso.
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