On Sunday, 22 November 2015 the Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais, together with community members, planted indigenous trees at an initiation site in Duinefontein Road in Nyanga.
Minister Marais donated 20 trees to be planted along the boundaries at the site in order to provide initiates with the necessary privacy, which the practice of initiation requires, especially for the upcoming initiation season starting in December.
Minister Marais said, “After consultation with the Nyanga Junction Initiation Forum, we have established that this site require more shelter to provide initiates with the privacy they need to complete the initiation ritual.”
Nontandazo Gcingca, a member of the initiation task team from Nyanga, said he is pleased that the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), as well as Minister Marais, is taking initiative with this matter. Gcingca said, “Planting these trees is a symbol of hope for our community. We are pleased that the Minister is in full support of us to strengthen the tradition of initiation.”
DCAS is working with communities that take pride in their culture and want young men undergoing traditional male initiation to be safe, BETTER TOGETHER.
Tania Colyn
Head of Communication Service
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9877
E-mail: tania.colyn@westerncape.gov.za