A COMPARISON OF BEHAVIOUR AND MORALITY BETWEEN YESTERYEARS’ AND CONTEMPORARY INITIATES: THE CASE OF 2022 CALA AND MDANTSANE STUDY

Simon Murote  Kang’ethe; Aphiwe Mpateni

doi:10.46662/jass.v10i2.375

Simon Murote Kang’ethe Lecturer, Department of Social Work and Psychology, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa
Aphiwe Mpateni Lecturer, Department of Social Work/Social Development, University of Fort Hare South Africa

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46662/jass.v10i2.375

Keywords: Behaviour, Morality, Traditional male circumcision, Culture

Abstract

This article compared the behaviour of yesteryear’s initiates and the contemporary ones in Cala and Mdantsane. This study aimed to explore the policy differences informing TMC in yesteryears and those in the contemporary epoch; to identify the similarities and differences between the behaviour of the two sets of initiates; and to establish the environmental factors motivating the behaviour of initiates. The exploratory and descriptive designs were used. One‑on‑one interviews with the guidance of an interview guide to facilitate interviews. The findings revealed that the yesteryears’ initiates behaved meticulously compared to those of contemporary epoch; embracement of chastity by the yesteryears’ initiates; contemporary initiates displayed wicked behaviours post initiation; the contemporary initiates’ behaviours influenced by illusionary interpretation of rights and tenets of development; Contemporary initiates entrenching culture of abusing substances. Government should ensure that traditional male circumcision achieves its objective. Training for traditional attendants; and hosting cultural events for cultural resuscitation.