When unregistered initiation schools are identified they will be closed

responsible for abductions, assaults and, in some cases, fatalities. In 2017, the CRL Rights Commission conducted its own research into the cultural practice of initiation and found that it was necessary to suspend the practice in Gauteng until December 2018, given the number of deaths, amputations and injuries at initiation schools. The province has put in place the following mechanisms to deal with illegal initiation schools:

•Provincial monitoring team established headed by Amandebele Ndzundza Sokhulumi Royal Council chairperson – Prince George Mahlangu.

•Provincial initiation rapid response team (for trouble shooting) headed by COGTA, Traditional Surgeons, Contralesa and Codefsa is in place.

•Municipal monitoring teams headed by environmental health practitioners.

•Municipal advisory committees, municipal initiation committees and elders committees exist in all municipalities, except the City of Johannesburg. Some committees are no longer effective and may need to be resuscitated.

•Civil society organisations support during and out of seasons.

•Gauteng Initiation Website was developed http://www.cogta.gpg.gov.za/ initiations/.

•Two Traditional Councils in the province (ANSTC & ABLTC).

Gauteng is calling for all people within the province to work together to ensure that there is “Zero tolerance on initiation deaths and illegal initiation schools” during the 2019 initiation winter season and going forward.

Members of the public are constantly urged to report any irregularities and illegal initiation schools incidents and all wrongdoings in the name of the practice.

The MEC for COGTA and Human Settlements, Dikgang Moiloa, together with the inkosi Mahlangu of the Amandebele Ndzundza Sokhulumi and Kgosi Kekana of the Amandebele ba Lebelo Traditional Communities support that where unregistered initiation schools are identified they will be closed, the children attending such schools will be regarded as abducted and relevant legislation will be enforced.

The Traditional Councils, with the support from COGTA and municipalities, will verify permits issued inside the province. The permit holders from all municipalities shall adhere and comply with the provincial conditions.

All applications are expected to have been submitted to the municipalities two months before the start of the initiation school or as the municipal bylaws stipulate. Applications for permit processing must be accompanied by all the necessary documentation. Municipalities will issue permits and register the schools when all the criteria have been met. The permission to host an initiation school must comply with the national Policy Framework on the Cultural Practice of Initiation and the municipal bylaws.

The MEC, in collaboration with the two recognised Senior Traditional Leaders encourage parents to ensure that the initiation schools they have identified are registered with their municipality and comply with the municipal bylaws.

In order to ensure that initiates are healthy during the season, all initiates must undergo the medical health screening using the gazetted forms issued by the department of health, be screened by a qualified medical practitioner and issued a medical health certificate for fitness before admission to an initiation school. Applicants are also encouraged to comply with the National Children’s Act. Admission age of the initiates is not less than 18 years. Furthermore, the initiation period in Gauteng is only during the winter and summer school calendar.

Culture and tradition are part of the very fibre that defines us as human beings. We have a constitutional obligation to protect and preserve our traditions and cultures that in so many ways bring us unity in diversity.