The National Assembly has passed the Customary Initiation Bill on Tuesday without any objections. It will be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence. The Bill seeks to regulate customary initiation practices to curb the deaths of male and female initiates due to the operation of some bogus initiation schools.
The Bill will create various structures that can regulate initiation schools in provinces and local municipalities.
Speaking during the debate on the Bill, Deputy Minister for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Obed Bapela says that they have been facing challenges with initiation schools since June 2012.
“The Bill will also make provisions for municipalities to strengthen their by-laws, regulatory processes. Municipalities must ensure the provision of the necessary infrastructure such as land, clean water, and sites for initiations. Traditional initiation signifies the transformation from boyhood into adulthood. And of significant is the preparation for manhood. Leadership, respect and responsibility it’s a rite of passage to adulthood. Since June 2012 to date, the challenges of initiations, deaths, amputations arises mainly form the illegal schools or bogus schools.”
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