By Anita Dangazele
- The OR Tambo District has recorded six initiation deaths, while 11 more were reported in four other districts.
- Four men were arrested at an illegal initiation school where some boys were hidden under beds.
The death toll from this year’s summer initiation season in the Eastern Cape has risen to 17 — and it’s not even over yet.
The deaths were confirmed by Deputy Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe. He is currently on an urgent oversight visit to the province to check on initiation schools and meet with traditional leaders.
The OR Tambo District has recorded the highest number of deaths, with six initiates losing their lives. Amathole District has had four deaths, while Chris Hani District and Buffalo City Metro each reported three.
One death was reported in Alfred Nzo District.
Burns-Ncamashe blamed the deaths on parents who failed to take proper care of their children before and during the initiation process.
“We are now sitting at 17 deaths in the Eastern Cape only, in the middle of the season,” he said.
“This largely could be attributed to high levels of negligence, particularly on the part of the parents.”
He said most of the boys died from dehydration, and questioned the role of both parents and traditional nurses.
During a visit to the OR Tambo District on Thursday, the deputy minister witnessed a group of women trying to stop police from arresting four men at an illegal initiation school.
Officers arrested a 62-year-old traditional surgeon and three traditional nurses. The school was not registered, and none of the staff had legal permits. Some of the boys were hidden under beds to avoid being found.
“This was shocking,” said Burns-Ncamashe. “In my life, I had never seen something like this.”
He added that the women who blocked the police should have been arrested for defeating the ends of justice.
At another school near Mthatha, Burns-Ncamashe found dirty and unsafe conditions. He also visited a rescue centre in Tsolo where eight boys aged between 13 and 15 — most from Ngqeleni — were being looked after.
Vuyo Stofile from the Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders said that although the surgeon arrested was experienced and registered, he broke the law by working with unregistered nurses.
“There are currently 45 cases under investigation,” said Stofile. “We have made 35 arrests and opened 12 inquests into initiation deaths.”
Pictured above: Deputy Minister Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe and leaders during a visit to UMzimvubu in Alfred Nzo on Wednesday.
Image source: Cogta EC/Facebook
