No pants for village women until initiation is over

Failure to comply with these rules could lead to a fine by the tribal court or, worse, a group of initiates breaking the windows of the homes of offenders.

Residents of Ga-Mamaila villages in Sekgosese outside Modjadjiskloof claimed their headmen announced at community meetings more than a week ago that failure to comply with the rules could lead to them being summoned to the local tribal court.

But the Ga-Mamaila Tribal Council has denied the banning of women from wearing pants . The council, however, admitted it had prohibited the playing of loud music for the duration of the initiation period.

Council spokesman Peter Mamaila said those who played loud music during this period would "definitely be summoned to the chief, who will decide on what to do".

"This is how we show some respect to the mountain men and boys. It didn't start today, but it has always been like that. It is our tradition and all our six villages have to obey that, they can't play music."

Mamaila refused to divulge the amount of the fine that would be meted out to offenders. "This is between the tribal court and the offenders."

But women who spoke to Sowetan on condition of anonymity said they were not happy. "It is cold but we can't put pants on. We are young and have parties," said one girl.

Sowetan also learnt that the same rule was applied during the last initiation five years ago.

Commission for Gender Equality spokesman Jabu Baloyi said they couldn't comment. "Due to engagement with the House of Traditional Leaders, we cannot make a comment at this stage. As soon as those engagements are finalised we shall make the outcome public," said Baloyi.

Chairman of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders Kgoshi Malesela Dikgale said the practice was not covered in the Northern Province Circumcision School Act of 1996.

"This is a sorry state of affairs. It should be taken up with the House of Traditional Leaders formally. The committee on initiation will deal with it. They will investigate and come up with recommendations," he said.

"At the moment we are living in a developed country. We can change some of those things that are not benefiting our people."

Between November 2014 and April this year, the tribal council banned the wearing of pants by women in the 11 Sekgosese villages as a form of respect to Kgoshi David Phooko, who died in November last year. Those who didn't comply faced fines of up to R500.

At the time, the Commission for Gender Equality said it respected the rights of individuals or communities to practise their cultural, religious or traditional beliefs, but warned that those beliefs shouldn't infringe on the rights of people to choose for themselves.

The Traditional Courts Amendment Bill, which sought to give chiefs and traditional leaders more powers to issue sanctions and fines, was rejected by the National Council of Provinces in 2013.