/ 15 March 2008

Schools crack down on traditional dress

In some Western Cape township schools 2008 started with a clash between circumcision initiates wearing post-circumcision dress and school authorities intent on ensuring school dress codes were adhered to.

Learners donning post-circumcision dress – comprising formal shoes, trousers, a jacket, a formal shirt and hat – have argued that they are under instruction from elders to wear the dress for a minimum of six months. But principals say school codes of conduct require a learner to wear school uniform. At least two township school principals have, however, given learners a grace period until the end of March to convert to school uniform.

Initiates at Sinethemba Senior Secondary School in Philippi said it was unfair that they would have to wear school uniform and viewed the March grace period as ”just another threat”.

Luzuko Gwangqa said he would refuse to wear school uniform until June, when the six-month period expired. ”It is our culture as Xhosa-speaking men to wear these dresses for a minimum of six months. Our parents have spent a lot of money on the ceremony and now they are told to buy other clothing.”

Another initiate, Mphumeleli Mandzi, said not wearing traditional dress would bring bad luck. ”I cannot imagine myself not wearing these clothes. I am being watched by people and I don’t want to disappoint them. I am doing what I was told,” said Mandzi.

But a teacher at Sinethemba Senior Secondary School, Sipho Mashiya, said the tradition had become a competition between initiates to wear the best clothes, creating a fashion race. ”They are disrespecting it (the tradition) and we are intervening.”

In Nyanga, Dr Nelson Mandela High School educator Wandisile Ngeyi, who teaches a grade 12 class, said the number of initiates out of school uniform had decreased since January.

”I understand that it’s tradition to wear post-circumcision dress for a certain period of time, but in this case it clashes with the school code of conduct.”

He said learners had been reminded last year that those who were undergoing the circumcision rite should also buy the school uniform when buying their post-circumcision dress. Post-initiates had therefore known that they would have to wear school uniform.

Oscar Mpetha High School principal Dumile Mawisa confirmed that parents knew learners had to wear the school uniform. ”We do not tolerate them coming to school not wearing the school uniform. We are giving no warning but to send such a learner home,” Mawisa said.

Chief Dalibhunga Fadana, a Western Cape traditional leader, said it was part of Xhosa tradition to wear post-circumcision dress and this right should not be taken away.

Fadana said although centuries ago post-circumcised men would not have worn the formal attire currently worn, ”things change and we have accepted the dress code as tradition”. He said the initiates should be ”accepted as they are”, urging teamwork between the various stakeholders to find a solution.

Western Cape education department director of communications Paddy Attwell said schools should resolve the matter on their own, but if no solutions could be found ”then we will intervene”. Attwell said schools should consult with communities to find a way forward.

”Although we prefer not to intervene at this stage, we encourage schools to respect the tradition.” Attwell said learners should not be barred from the doors of learning. – Western Cape News