Traditional leaders in the Eastern Cape are mentoring initiation graduates (or amakrwala in Xhosa) in an effort to boost moral regeneration among them.

The aim is to educate new graduates on manhood challenges, responsibilities and societal morals and values.

Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders chairman Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima said elderly men as mentors need to share words of wisdom and advice and mould the characters of the young men through mentorship.

"These words are viewed in our culture as central to the values espoused by manhood," he said.

He said the house of traditional leaders decided to run a provincial programme working with traditional leaders, community leaders and NGOs.

"This came up after we noticed moral degeneration among young men (initiation graduates) who rape women, abuse women, disrespect parents and teachers.

"Some of them think that now they are men, they should be treated as elders; in true fact they are still children," said Matanzima.

Community Development Forum of South Africa director Nkululeko Nxesi said the NGO was organising community services whereamakrwala would clean schools, assist in building community structures, plough fields and be involved in sport and crime awareness campaigns.

The mentorship programme, which went to Port Elizabeth last week where no initiation deaths were reported, will be rolled out to various parts of the Transkei this week. It will start in Mbizana on Tuesday.

Matanzima said he hoped the programme would "pay dividends".

"We want to have young men with high morals, men with family and community values; men who do not rape; young men who fear God, respect ancestors and honour their parents."

The jury is still out on this call by the chief. However, one initiate Xolani Vimbayo of Mthatha, said he appreciated the programme.