It's initiation season once again and unfortunately one death has already been recorded. This is a growing concern as parents worry that when they send their children away for this custom, they may not come back. The CRL Commission revealed that 700 initiates have lost their lives in just under a decade. The initiate that died is from Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape and was from the early November intake. In July, at least 36 initiates died who were kept at an illegal initiation schools from June. The National Assembly's Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has since called the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prioritise the prosecution of cases relating to illegal initiation schools. The committee's chairperson, Fikile Xasa said some parents know that they are sending their children to illegal initiation schools. "What do they think will happen if they hand over their children to people who are not regulated. That's why we say they must also be charged for their roles should their children die because of their recklessness,"said Xasa. Xasa said their primary concern was the health, well-being of initiates and prevention of more deaths.
FATALITIES CAUSED BY INITIATION
He said the season between December 2021 and January 2022 recorded the highest number of deaths in initiation history. He said the OR Tambo district alone has 68 illegal schools. "The Customary Initiation Act is clear on what action needs to be taken against illegal schools. They have to be closed down and the committee expects traditional surgeons and nurses who are part of these illegal schools to be arrested and charged. Another issue with these mushroom schools is the admission of underage boys who clearly cannot withstand the intensity that comes with being an initiate." It is not only the Eastern Cape faced with this dilemma. Provinces like Limpopo and Mpumalanga are also faced with a rise in fatalities caused by illegal initiation schools.
ABDUCT AND FORCEFULLY KEEP INITIATES
Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, said despite a partnership between the government and traditional leaders there were concerns that the rise in illegal initiation schools who abduct and forcefully keep initiates. She said some of them die of dehydration, and some would get infections during the initiation process.In June the youngest initiate died in Limpopo. Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs MEC spokesperson Hitekani Magwedze confirmed the death of a 6-year old boy. It is alleged that the boy was epileptic and was admitted into the initiation school with his parents consent. "The parents of the boy and the initiation school contravened Section 12 (1) of the Limpopo Initiation Schools Act 6 of 2016. The act states that no person below the age of 12, can be admitted to an initiation school."
