23 Jul 2014

All prospective Balete initiates will go through a medical assessment before embarking on a month long initiation ritual.


Deputy paramount chief Tsimane Mokgosi said they have partnered with the Ministry of Health through the District Health Management Team (DHMT) to ensure that all are fit for the rigorous training.
 He told that would-be initiates will all undergo tests for diabetes, high blood pressure and HIV /AIDS before leaving for the jungle.


Kgosi Tsimane said this is to ensure that during training, there would be no disturbances of inmates requiring to be ferried to and from the medical facilities for check-ups and seek medical care. 
 “Welfare of our clients is very important because we do not want to find ourselves in compromising positions,” he said.


He said that they encourage those who are undergoing any treatment to make arrangements with their doctors to be given a package that would last for a month before they go into the jungle for extensive training. 


Kgosi Tsimane further said that they also encourage the initiates to have their guardians, who will meet their needs and wants during the training to be ready by July 29.


He also noted that they have already registered 136 men who are going for training and they are expecting these figures to increase daily as most people show interest.


“I am very certain that these figures will increase because there are some who we turn back because they have not consulted their guardians, “he added.


Kgosi Tsimane said foreigners have also shown interest and he added that they have registered two men from neighboring South Africa.


The official registration is expected to come to an end before the 29 July, but Kgosi Tsimane said there will be a special dispensation for late registration until 4 August.


Kgosi Tsimane also explained that everyone from around the world was welcome to be part of the initiation provided they have consulted their family members and countries of origin.


On the 25th July, the initiates are expected to undergo a more symbolic punishment where they will be given two strokes each as a way of asking for ‘Bogwera’ initiation.


The two day testing of initiates will commence on July 16-17 at the main Kgotla and from July 26-27 for those who did not find a chance to test early. ENDS