By Anita Dangazele
Fear is lingering in the Eastern Cape as the number of initiate deaths shot up to 12 in the first week of December.
Following the fatal shooting of two initiates – who were brothers – in Ngqamakwe in the early hours of Tuesday, the death toll has risen by a shocking nine deaths after the three from earlier in the week.
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs provincial spokesperson Mamnkeli Ngam said they feared that things may take a turn for the worse in spite of all the preventative measures taken to prevent such deaths.
“This is shocking to have 12 initiates die in the first week of December. We fear the worst,” Ngam said.
Eastern Cape Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders chairperson, Mpumalanga Gwadiso, confirmed dehydration and assault as the main causes of death.
“We established that most of the initiates who died did not drink water at home for weeks before they underwent the rite, and even at the initiation school they refused water,” Gwadiso said.
He called upon parents to play an active role in ensuring a safer initiation process for children.
In Buffalo City Metro, the local house of traditional leaders confirmed a 22-year-old initiate died at an initiation school outside Mdantsane on 5 December.
“This was after he was severely assaulted, allegedly by his brother, who was also his traditional nurse. The reason for the attack was said to be that he found the initiate drinking water,” Chief Zwelizolile Toyise confirmed.
He said the initiate’s brother has been arrested and is in custody.
In the OR Tambo region three deaths were reported, two in Lusikisiki and one in Ngqeleni, also allegedly as a result of assaults, as were the two deaths reported in the Alfred Nzo district.
The sacred tradition of uLwaluko has been marred by allegations of sexual abuse of inniates by traditional nurses.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane ordered an investigation into these allegations after it emerged this week that a traditional nurse in the Cacadu district had been raping initiates for years.
“We are urging law enforcement authorities to tighten their grip in the fight against lawlessness at initiation schools,” Mabuyane said.
Pictured above: Traditional initiates.
Image source: Facebook
