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FILE: Initiates in a field in the Eastern Cape.
The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) has called on government to impose a temporary ban on initiation schools in the Eastern Cape.
This follows the deaths of 20 initiates during the summer initiation season.
Contralesa says the two-year ban would give government and other relevant stakeholders time to come up with a plan to avoid the deaths of initiates.
Contralesa President Kgosi Mathupa-Mokoena says something is amiss.
“Until government wakes up and smells the coffee and does exactly what we are suggesting, this problem won’t stop… All of us relevant stakeholders (need) to sit down and look at exactly what is it that needs to be done. It cannot be Eastern Cape all along. Why are other provinces not experiencing what we are experiencing here? It means something is missing here.”
Earlier this month at the start of the season, the Eastern Cape Traditional Affairs Department said the deaths of eight initiates could have been avoided.
Six of the initiates died of dehydration and their wounds had also become septic after being illegally circumcised.
One was burnt beyond recognition in his hut in Stutterheim; while another died of lung complications.
