History was made when three Ethiopians graduated from an initiation school at Shigalo village last Saturday.
Malukani Sifiso, Gaddafi Lira and Tangasa Mahomed are Ethiopian nationals staying in Malamulele Township; they were among the 700 initiates who were welcomed by the community and relatives.
According to Sifiso, they voluntarily went to the initiation school and they were not forced by anyone. "It's long I wanted to go to initiation, so I have been telling my two fellow countrymen that we must go when it starts. So, we went and we were welcomed and the treatment was very good. We were treated equal with the other young men," he said.
"I'm so happy because I'm a man now. At home, we do go to the initiation school but it's different from what is happening here in South Africa," he said.
Gadhafi Lira is also urging other foreign nationals to attend the initiation schools and learn of the South African culture and traditions. "We are all Africans and we must treat each other with love. We must unite," he said
The local traditional leader, Hosi James Maluleke from Shigalo village, said he was so happy that no death was reported at this year's initiation school. "We also made history by welcoming other people from other countries, because we believe that we are one."
According to the deputy chairperson of Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders, Hosi Eric Mudavula, more than 274 initiation schools were approved this year.