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Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has implored all spheres of government to assist a 52- year-old man who has just graduated from initiation school to find suitable employment.
The man was part of the 35 initiates who came back from initiation school after an intervention from two Bay NGOs and the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality.
The municipality had forked out close to R400 000 from the Ward Councillors’ Humanitarian Grant to help the disadvantaged families from across 9 wards in the metro.
Speaking at the event Mabuyane said just under 32 000 initiates had undergone initiation this season, while "22 did not come back alive."
He said one death was one too many.
Welcoming the group to manhood Mabuyane said they should not rape or abuse women and should not abuse alcohol.
“They are becoming role models to others,” he added.
Mabuyane also signed a pledge to ensure that the initiative was not abused and that the program goes to beneficiaries who need it.
Nelson Mandela Bay Deputy Mayor, Mkhuseli Jack, said the psychological impact of Ulwaluko on young men could not be ignored and needed a societal intervention to curb any mental health issues within society.
“The journey does not end here, we are building the leaders of tomorrow. We want to thank the Ward Councillors who played a crucial role from the first day up to today,” Jack said.
The young men also took a pledge to, among others, not abuse women and children, nor abuse alcohol and drugs.
