Measures to curb fatalities at initiation schools

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Pretoria- The Eastern Cape province has in the previous year recorded the highest number of fatalities at initiation schools compared to other provinces in the country.

To ensure that the scourge does not continue anywhere in the country this year, government has partnered with relevant stakeholders nationwide to campaign for zero deaths during the winter initiation season, which is already underway.

According to the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), 40 initiates died undergoing a procedure of cultural initiation practice.

It has been found that challenges leading to fatalities at initiation schools include not adhering to stringent health standards, unqualified traditional surgeons and schools often not having safety measures in place.

Pneumonia, dehydration due to not drinking enough water and deprivation, assault, botched circumcision and other conditions related to mental sickness are other causes of death during initiation period.

National Initiation Task Team Chairperson, Inkosi Sipho Mahlangu, said rescue centres will be established in the provinces, giving much attention to the Eastern Cape.

“We will be very strict this year. We will not allow any illegal school to operate,” he said.

He said  initiation coordinating committees have been set up at provincial level and will soon be launched at local level.

They will comprise police, health officials, members of municipalities and social services staff members. He said the committees will have to ensure compliance by initiation schools.

“They will have to make sure that all the boys that are at the initiation schools underwent medical examination and parents have signed, and traditional surgeons are trained to practice,” said Mahlangu, who is also the Deputy Chairperson of National House of Traditional Leaders.

He said where there is no compliance, initiation schools will be closed.

He called on parents to cooperate and take responsibility over the health of their children.

“Parents are disappointing us in the Eastern Cape, where fathers would not allow medical assistance in cases of emergency. If parents can work closer with us, I think we can win this battle.

“Peer pressure is also a big problem amongst boys, where those who went through initiation do not see those who have not yet undergone initiation as men, which result in boys going to intiation schools without parents’ consent,” he said.

Statistics according to the COGTA Ministry shows that Free State was second as it recorded seven deaths of initiates in 2015, followed by Northern Cape with three, Western Cape with two and Gauteng with one.

COGTA Deputy Minister Obed Bapela on Thursday said the Free State province has received no application or indication to conduct winter initiation school this year.

The Deputy Minister said a number of workshops and campaigns have been executed and are ongoing, to educate and raise awareness of necessary measures to preserve lives of initiates.

He said the majority of communities in Kwa-Zulu Natal province practice medical circumcision instead of customary cultural initiation.

Deputy Minister Bapela commended traditional leaders in the Limpopo province for taking the lead and responsibility to promote accountability. He deemed the province a shining example.

The Deputy Minister said Mpumalanga started on a bad footing as an unregistered school has already been reported in May. However, the Deputy Minister said initiates at the bogus school have reportedly completed the season without any fatalities or anomalies reported.

He said, in the North West, submissions of applications to conduct initiation started in April and the season will start on 10 June and end on 9 July, but there are no details yet on number of schools and initiates.

He said initiation will be conducted in three of the five districts in the Northern Cape this winter, but there are no details as yet regarding initiation period, number of schools and enrolled initiates.

500 initiates are expected in 30 initiation schools in the Western Cape between May and July this year, and the Minister said a monitoring team has been established.

“Working together we can put an end to unnecessary deaths and injuries by putting the safety of our boys and young men first and only use legal initiation schools,” said the Deputy Minister.-SAnews.gov.za