Winter Initiation Death Toll Hits 43, CRL Forms Investigative Committee
South Africa’s Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) has announced that 43 young initiates died during this year’s winter initiation season, prompting the establishment of a special committee to investigate the recurring fatalities at traditional initiation schools.
According to a reportage by SABC news, the commission disclosed that Mpumalanga recorded the highest number of deaths, with 18 fatalities, followed by the Eastern Cape, where 14 initiates lost their lives. The remaining deaths were reported in other provinces, highlighting the continued dangers associated with some traditional initiation practices.
Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg, Deputy Chairperson of the CRL Rights Commission, George Mahlangu, announced the formation of a Section 7 Committee to conduct an in-depth investigation into the deaths and recommend lasting solutions to prevent future tragedies.
He urged all relevant stakeholders to support the committee’s work.
“The commission calls upon all stakeholders, traditional leaders, provincial initiation coordinating committees, the National Initiation Oversight Committee, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Department of Health, parents, and community members to cooperate fully with this committee,” Mahlangu said.
He stressed that the objective of the committee was not only to investigate the deaths but also to help the country develop sustainable measures to improve the safety of traditional initiation practices.
“Because at the heart of it, this committee seeks to assist the country, as well as all the stakeholders, with finding a long-lasting solution to these persistent fatalities that we are seeing in initiation schools,” he added.
Traditional initiation schools remain an important cultural rite of passage for many communities in South Africa, particularly among several ethnic groups to usher them into manhood. However, the ceremonies have repeatedly come under scrutiny due to deaths and serious injuries linked to illegal initiation schools, dehydration, infections, assaults and inadequate medical care.
The newly established Section 7 Committee is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, identify systemic shortcomings in the management and oversight of initiation schools, and make recommendations aimed at strengthening safety measures while preserving the cultural significance of the practice.
It is hoped that the investigation would lead to greater accountability and collaboration among traditional leaders, government institutions and communities to hold those culpable by the law and also ensure that future initiation seasons are conducted safely and without further loss of life. Culture must not kill
Source:SABC News
By: Joyce Owusu
