Authorities in dismay over deaths of initiates

Government and traditional leaders in the Eastern Cape have expressed concern over the fact that at the halfway mark of the 2018 winter season, more initiates have died compared with the entire winter season last year.

On Friday, the provincial death toll for initiates stood at nine. But up to yesterday it had increased to 14.

The most recent death includes that of a 50-year-old, who died at an initiation school in Gomolo village, Port St Johns, on Monday.

Authorities have described this year’s deaths – which reportedly includes many instances of criminality – as scary, disappointing, embarrassing and barbaric.

Cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa said the situation was out of hand and it needed everybody to pull together to stop further deaths.

Provincial Cogta spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam yesterday announced with dismay the increase of initiation deaths.

“We have now lost lives of 14 boys in initiation schools in the Eastern Cape,” said Ngam.

In OR Tambo there have been 10 recorded deaths, Alfred Nzo (Mbizana) two, one in the (Mdantsane) Buffalo City and one in (Ngcobo) Chris Hani.

Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders’ Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana also expressed dismay over the deaths, given the amount of work put in by task teams that have crisscrossed the province.

“The custom has been infiltrated by criminals and those who abuse the rite, commercialise it and use it as moneymaking scheme and in the process mutilate and maim our sons,” said Nonkonyana.

OR Tambo traditional initiation forum chairman Nkosi Mkhanyiseli Dudumayo said: “Cogta portfolio committee chairman Mninawa Nyusile and also the chairman of health portfolio Mxolisi Dimaza will be in Nyandeni with their teams in an effort to assist and arrest the situation in OR Tambo, Nyandeni to be more specific with the focus on Libode and Ngqeleni. This is indeed a crisis and it needs more hands,” said Dudumayo.