First it was SABC1's Cutting Edge that zoomed into the controversial township trend known as Skhothanes. Now etv's 3rd Degree dissected the controversial Skothane trend...
3rd Degree on etv Clearly this ridiculous trend of iziKhothane or Skothane's is huge, that's why it made a come back on etv's 3rd Degree.
This time the spotlight was in Katlehong, where the Skhothane groups called the Born Agains and Over Spenders were more that pleased to invite cameras to their bling lifestyle.
The Born Again members divulged the cost of their expensive clothes with:
A Belt costing around - R500
A Shirt - R500
A pair of Jeans - R1500
A pair of Shoes - R2700
One of the members mentioned that a complete outfit cost a total of between R8500 and R9000.
These boys believe that being iSikhothane makes you stand out amongst crowds and their status is confirmed when the spectators call into radio stations and shout them out on-air.
One arrogant but very silly Skhothane gloated that, " You gotta afford to be a Skhothane. If you can't afford then you can't be called a Skhothane." SMH
Once the Skhothane groups meet for a face off, things turn ugly. They exchange insults, disses and curses, all in the name of coming out as the top Skhothane. One even said the other Skhothane's clothes had faded and that they were probably "fong-kong" and he would buy him new clothes and even buy his mother.
Clearly, they needed to leave a lasting impression, so they kicked each other so their shoe soles on left "a stamp" of their expensive brands on their rivals' clothes. Some took off their clothes and trampled all over them to show that they are "rich."
The madness continued with the spilling of Ultramel custard on the ground, spashing expensive booze namely Johnny Walker Black and comparing gold teeth.
The saddest scene was when one Skhothane tore his parents' hard earned money in front of onlookers, mostly young kids who could use the money for food.
Of course they are not wealthy either. These Skhothane's come from struggling homes but they couldn't care less. As one of the Skhothanes, SK said "People hate us because Skhothane's live a stress free life, we just spend. It doesn't matter if the family is struggling, we are doing what we love and that's all that matters. Even the girls go crazy when they see us and scream 'SK! SK.' As long as we do what we love then it's not a problem."
SK's uncle agreed with the statement mentioned by his nephew. He said he was more than happy to spend on the nephew because they never had such opportunities during the apartheid era.
The Skhothane's made a synonymous declaration that their role models were the likes of Kenny Kunene, Khanyi Mbau and the bling politicians... They believe that educated people with degrees are not doing well because they struggle like everyone else, so why should they consider them as role models.
Unfortunately this bling life has its' consequences as one Gogo related the story of her grandson's suicide. She spoiled the grandson rotten after his father passed on. She bought him all the latest Nike sneakers, RMs for R2000 but unfortunately that wasn't enough for Thando who was part of the Skhothane group called the Psychos. Thando later hanged himself because the Skhothane's standards were just too high.
The Psychos group members believe this trend needs to come to an end because they can see how it's putting too much pressure on their parents and grandparents.
I can't emphasise enough the madness of this silly trend.
Where you watching? What are your thoughts on Skhothanes?
Cutting Edge on SABC1 "There's nothing much I can do with R2000. I just buy a pair of Carvellas which cost R1800, then the rest is used for taxi fare and maybe a pizza."
These are words from a "Skhothane", that doesn't even have a casual job.
It all went down on
Cutting Edge on SABC1, where cameras followed the lives of what is known as
"Izikhothane". To put it in a politically correct manner, "Skhothanes" are young boys with expensive taste, who trash their pricy gear (clothes, shoes, booze, etc) all in the name of showing off. Most Skhothanes are part of a group. These groups go head-to-head or rather label-to-label to showoff who's got more swag.
More like, who's more dumb
The episode focused on these Skhotane's from a group called the 18 Boys and the other, Stressed what what, wearing designer labels with shoes ranging from R800 to R2500, and some boys having spent R5000 on a entire outfit from head to toe. Mind you, these are school-going teens.
Dressed in these expensive clothes, they are transported in "combis" better known as Quantams, to the once exquisite but now dodgy "park" called Little Falls.
En route to the venue they buy loads of expensive booze at a local bottle store. (Pause... None of those boys looked a day older than 18 years, how were they permitted to buy booze in abundance?) The rival groups kicked off the competition by hurling insults at each other about how much money they have.
Once they get to the venue, where many Skhothane groups have assembled, it becomes a jamboree as various Skhothane's show off their expensive garments, some still had price tags to prove that they are genuine. Amen. One was even talking about signing cheques and said he left his cheque book at home. Like really, can he even spell CHEQUE?
You'd assume with all the money spent this would be a glam affair. It couldn't be further from glam. The rival groups pour and spit booze on each other, clearly wasting it. They also take off their tops and dump them on the muddy ground "to show just how rich they are."
Although it was not screened, these boys throw costly foods like pizza, meat and Ultramel custard at each other, much to the delight of all in attendance. *SMH*
This wasteful behaviour has become a norm in many neighbourhoods in the townships, particularly Soweto. The saddest and craziest thing is that these kids are not from well-off families. One mother (a single parent by the looks of it) mentioned that she's unemployed but the boy's father was providing money for the "Skhothane gear."
She seemed intoxicated as she kept on contracting herself, saying she pays for her son's expensive clothes because he does well in school, then immediately saying she can't afford to pay for those clothes and she doesn't care how the boy gets the money because she's prepared to bury him whatever happens to him. Those are a mother's words ne! Tjo!
Kenny Sushiking, the King of showing off, advised the boys to know theirs and their parents limitations and shouldn't be influenced by friends. He mentioned that wearing expensive labels is a Darkie thing, as it dates back to the Sophiatown days.
All I can say is that the Skhothane's are dripping with IGNORANT swagg. These boys spend R25 000 a year on clothes alone whilst reading books such as
Benny and Betty Lost and Found. How much are they contributing to a University fund?
Sure enough, If these boys are not big on education and would rather focus on looking good, then they should have ensured their homes looked just as good first. They even hinted that they'd do crime to keep up this rubbish trend. Sies!
As much as we can be hard on these boys, they are afterall just that - Boys. I blame the parents more for condoning such behaviour.
Now, for that moment of **death**. Some of the gibberish coming out of those boys mouths: *One silly Skhothane said:
"You don't even have money because your mom works at Caltex and she doesn't pay tax.' *From the Stress what what group:
"We Are Stress Providers..We Provide Stress to a Night Dress Cause we Dress to Impress the Mistresses" *The Skhothane from Little Falls
"Bebethi ngi useless kodwa awuboni ngifake u"U" weSiliva ezinyweni no "full" weGolide bang'biza ngo UseFull" DEAD... 
@PruMathebula