Comparison of behaviour between traditional male circumcision initiates of the yesteryears and those of the contemporary epoch in Cala and Mdantsane, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mpateni, Aphiwe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6823-9179
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Circumcision , Xhosa (African people) -- Rites and ceremonies
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22045 , vital:51968
- Description: Unequivocally, the traditional male circumcision as rite of passage in South African communities has been embraced for its role in shaping the behaviour among the initiates. This rite was highly valuable during the yesteryears as the traditional male circumcision initiates portrayed compliance with the society’s moral codes and cultural goalposts. Inopportunely, on the other hand, during the contemporary epoch this rite of passage and the cultural underpinnings embedded in it appear to be eroding and shifting from the initial purpose of inculcating good behaviour and morals. This study seeks to compare the behaviour of the yesteryears’ traditional male circumcision initiates and those of the contemporary epoch in Cala, Sakhisizwe Local Municipality and Mdantsane, Buffalo City Municipality in Eastern Cape. This study aimed to achieve the following objectives: (i) to explore the policy differences informing TMC practices in yesteryears and in the contemporary epoch; (ii) to identify the similarities and differences between the behaviour of the contemporary initiates and those of yesteryears; and (iii) to establish the environmental factors motivating the change of the behaviour apparent among the contemporary initiates as well as those of the yesteryears. This study is underpinned by the socio- cultural perspective, anomie theory, and social learning theory. Methodologically, this study was qualitative in nature, where the data was collected through one-on-one in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and Key informants interviews. An interview guide with open-ended questions was used to collect the data. A sample size of forty (40) participants was purposively selected for interviews. The data collection process was cross- sectional in design. Content analysis was employed to analyze the data and findings were presented thematically. The study established policy differences informing TMC during the yesteryears and the contemporary epoch, in that the yesteryears’ policy environment was culturally grounded; while the contemporary one’s is informed by the current national constitution and human rights perspectives. In relation to the policy issues, the study further established elements of illusionary interpretation of rights by the contemporary TMC initiates; poor implementation of policy guiding TMC practice. Further, the study revealed behavioural and morality differences between the yesteryears’ and the contemporary TMC initiates. For instance, the yesteryears’ TMC initiates were reported to be more responsible and well- mannered as compared to the contemporary ones. The shortfalls in expected behaviour and morality for the contemporary TMC initiates were attributed to modernization, and education in the contemporary initiation schools, which does not meet the societal expectations. On the environmental factors motivating the change of behaviour of the TMC initiates; Yesteryears’ TMC initiates complying with moral codes and cultural goalposts; Non-compliance to the moral codes and cultural goalposts by the contemporary TMC initiates; Culture of alcoholism during the contemporary epoch. Based on these findings, this study recommends that the government of South Africa should augment the existing TMC policies to ensure that traditional male circumcision as rite of passage achieves its socio-cultural objective of shaping behaviour and morals. The study further recommends training for traditional nurses “amakhankatha” and traditional surgeons “iingcibi”; and hosting cultural events for cultural resuscitation. The conclusions of this study state that the government must work hand in hand with cultural custodians to ensure that traditional male circumcision practice shapes good behaviour and morals of the initiates. This is because glaring gaps associated with the rite. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
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Umguyo practice and violent crimes in the Amathole District Municipality: a criminological perspective
- Authors: Mdlungu, Tandiwe https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7751-3873
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: violent crime -- Social aspects , Xhosa (African people) -- Rites and ceremonies , Initiation rites -- Religious aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29706 , vital:78873
- Description: This study aimed to investigate the factors contributing to the prevalence of violent crimes during the Umguyo practice. This is a traditional ceremony held the night before a Xhosa male adolescent’s Traditional Male Circumcision (TMC) or Ulwaluko. Despite it being a sacred and joyful occasion for the community, parents and initiates, violent crimes such as murder and assault have increased during the Umguyo practice season. They are mostly committed by young adolescent males from different villages as individuals or in large groups. Furthermore, little or no convictions are made for these crimes. The study adopted the Neutralization Theory, Rational and Differential Association Theory to explain the phenomenon of violence during the Umguyo practice. In-depth interviews were conducted with the custodians of knowledge on Umguyo practice, as key informants, in various villages in the Amathole District Municipality in South Africa. The study found that male adolescents use the Umguyo practice as a cover to commit violent crimes and that the following factors played a role: territorial disputes, the lack of significance of the practice to the young boys, excessive alcohol use in the name of culture, and the economic status of the hosting families. The study also revealed that other crimes, such as burglary and livestock theft, increased during the Umguyo practice season. The study recommends that community leaders, such as chiefs, should enforce stricter curfews on the night of the Umguyo practice, strengthen relations between law enforcement and community members to build trust, and encourage more witnesses of crime to come forward. The study also suggests that awareness campaigns should be held in the build-up to the initiation season. This could be beneficial for the criminal justice system, custodians of the Umguyo practice, and future generations. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023
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