Message of Support to Young Men Undertaking the Initiation Ritual

Statement by Anroux Marais, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport

I would hereby like to wish all the young men of our province well as they undertake their journey to manhood over the next few weeks.

Initiation is an important tradition in our communities that we need to respect and honour. My department has put various measures in place to ensure that caregivers can safely guide the young men in their care through this process. Our team will also be monitoring the registered sites and will be available to assist should there be any challenges.

I am proud of the way that this tradition is maintained in the Western Cape and I hope that we will continue to work together to ensure the safety of our young men during this time.

My best wishes go to each and every young man undertaking this journey during the winter season.