Pretoria – Cabinet has approved the release of the Draft Policy on the Customary Practice of Initiation, for public comment.
Briefing the media on Thursday, following Cabinet’s regular meeting, Minister in the Presidency for Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation Jeff Radebe said the policy seeks to protect, promote and regulate initiation by proposing acceptable norms and standards.
It also aims to ensure that initiation takes place in a controlled environment.
“This forms part of the steps that government is taking to reinforce appropriate, acceptable customs and practices and restore an acceptable level of accountability that sustained the practice over many years,” said Minister Radebe.
Many cultural groups in South Africa practise this coming-of-age ritual that signals the passage from boyhood to manhood. The two major initiation seasons are usually in June and December.
Other approved programmes and policies
Meanwhile, Cabinet has also approved the tabling of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade on Tobacco Products.
This is in accordance with the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which South Africa ratified in April 2005.
The FCTC assists countries to take global action against the illicit trade in tobacco products, especially in countries that are signatories to the protocol.
Cabinet also approved the intergovernmental Human Settlement Programme for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, which will use the Housing Development Agency as the implementing agent.
National assets register
Minister Radebe said progress has been made on national government’s Immovable Asset Register.
A Real Estate Registry Services Division has been established with effect from 1 April. The division will be managed within the Property Management Trading Entity and will oversee State immovable assets.
It will serve as a single repository of State immovable assets and will provide an oversight, regulatory and monitory structure of the State Immovable Asset Register. – SAnews.gov.za
