More than 200 initiates from one school in Limpopo have begun returning home after completing a four-week rite of passage at winter initiation schools.
A festive atmosphere has taken hold in parts of Limpopo as families and community members gathered to welcome the initiates. More than 200 young men from the Babina Tšhwene ba-ga-Tala initiation school at Phokwane outside Jane Furse completed their time at the winter initiation school.
The Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs reported that over 40 000 initiates registered for the winter season across the province. One initiate, Orearabile Moswane, said his coach taught him that being a man does not mean abusing women.
Moswane added that the lessons focused on protection instead, noting high levels of gender-based violence in the country. The returns mark the end of the winter initiation season.
