DOCUMENTS

"Gogo joins the girls!" - Daily Sun

"Lebollo was desperate 82-year-old's only option after a life filled with tragedy, so..." - front page lead, December 29 2014

Daily Sun (December 29 2014) - An 82-year-old gogo went to initiation school to avoid more badluck.

The gogo that cannot be named because of her church that does not allow initiation, went to the initiation in October after she still got her periods at age of 76.

Her menstruation ordeal was followed by the sudden deaths of her seven sons.

This was after she went to hospitals for check-ups and suspected cancer but she was told she did not have any.

The initiation school owner from Botshabelo Mamoya Rakauoane said women circumcision has being practical for many years but she has never seen gogo been initiated.

Gogo told Daily Sun: "I was involved in two car accident in less than ten years. Every night, I would have dreams and visions about women initiation school. But because of my religious believe and age, I declined to go.

When I was 76 years old, I had my periods again after a menopause when I was 50 years old.

I suspected cancer and went for medical check-ups but there was no cancer and I was discharged."

Gogo said the menstruation later stopped after she had consulted a local sangoma who told her that, in order to avoid more misfortunes in future, she must be circumcised.

"But I hated the idea of being circumcised even though I know it is part of my family culture.

My sons died from unknown illness while the other one died from a car accident."

The gogo that is now left with one daughter said through her dreams and visions, she was told that, if she wanted to save her family from more pain, she must make sure that she gets initiated before the end of this year.

"I then decided in October to obey the dreams and went to the initiation school.

The dreams and visions as well as the pains through my entire body have stopped. I am able to walk by myself again," she said.

Mamoya Rakauoane said: "Gogo's ancestors wanted her to be circumcised as it was part of her family tradition.

Women are supposed to go to the school when they are teenagers or still young and fit enough.

But when the ancestors have spoken, nothing can be done expect to do what they want to avoid bad omens and problems," she added.

See the Daily Sun's new website for more on this and other stories....

The Daily Sun is South Africa's largest daily newspaper with an average circulation of 274 165 (Audit Bureau of Circulations 2nd Quarter 2014) and a readership of 5.7m (as per AMPS 2012ab). Its Facebook page can be accessed here. It can be followed on Twitter here. To find about advertising on the Daily Sun click here.

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