Download PDFAs the initiation season nears, tensions between rival villages in Ngqamakhwe have erupted into violence. The Ngcisininde area, consisting of several villages, has a long history of inter-village rivalries that often escalate during this period.
Tragedy struck in KwaMemela village, where a young boy who was set to attend initiation school in December 2025 was brutally beaten to death by peers from a rival village in June 2025. The incident left the family and the entire village in shock and grief, as they had not expected such violence at this time.
Leaders, both political and traditional, have condemned the ongoing violence between villages, which has only caused pain and destruction over the years. The feuds have become so intense that they have even led to the cancellation of the Umtshotsho/Umguyo celebrations, where pre-initiates and other boys gather to celebrate. These events often resulted in injuries and underscored the need for a more peaceful approach to the initiation season.
The community is left to grapple with the consequences of this violence and the loss of young lives, emphasising the importance of finding a solution to these long-standing rivalries.
This article was submitted on 14 July 2025. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
