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Attendees seen at an initiation school
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Velenkosini Hlabisa, has called for initiation schools to adhere to safety measures as the winter initiation season gets under way.
Hlabisa officially launched the 2025 winter customary initiation season in Bloemfontein, emphasizing a nationwide goal of zero deaths among initiates.
This follows a tragic 2024 season that saw 94 fatalities and 11 amputations, with the Eastern Cape and Free State provinces recording the highest numbers.
PODCAST | Customary Initiation Season, Hlabisa weighs in
Hlabisa says the figures are worrying.
“That is why we have been working very hard this year, to ensure that the winter season achieves zero rate, in terms of death and casualties and we’ve activated all sectors of society and all the key departments which are going to be working together to ensure that this time around we achieve zero deaths in terms of the initiates,” stresses Hlabisa.
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