DA to meet with the families of deceased initiates

6 July 2015 

The death of 14 young men and the severe injury of 141 others during the first half of the winter initiation season in the Eastern Cape is of great concern to the DA.

I will be meeting with the families of some of the deceased initiates to gain deeper insights into the harmful effects these occurrences have on families and what these bereft families think should be done to arrest these deaths while still respecting cultural practices in SA. 

One life lost is one too many. Sadly, this important rite of passage for boys in their journey towards manhood is being hijacked by opportunistic practitioners who care not about preserving the sacred tradition but rather are concerned with lining their pockets at the expense of so many young lives. 

Where we govern, the DA in the Western Cape is committed to ensuring that we provide training and support to make initiation and initiation schools safe in order to prevent injury or loss of life.

The Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport have the following interventions in place: 

The forming of partnerships with the relevant initiation forums, municipalities and provincial departments such as the Department of Health which work towards protecting the custom of initiation as well as safeguarding the medical well-being of all initiates.

Providing first aid training and kits for traditional healers and surgeons;

Providing bibs to nurses who assist during the ceremonies;

Providing districts with the services of a doctor (on call) for circumcision camps;

Encouraging local authorities to have clean running water points at circumcision camps; and

Engaging traditional healers and surgeons through their local forums about the ritual and its medical implications.

Traditional initiation ceremonies play an integral role in our society and continue to bring joy to many who practice them safely. The DA believes that in order to thrive as a society we must preserve our ancient and sacred traditions but these practices should be brought in line with the Constitution and the rule of law. 

National government must start to deliver on its promise ensure the safety of our children during the initiation season as we have done in the DA-run Western Cape. The DA will continue to do everything possible to make sure that this becomes a reality and that not one more life is lost during initiation ceremonies. 

Statement issued by Nqaba Bhanga MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, July 6 2015