The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) has ordered that all illegal initiations schools be shut down.
The Rights Commission has been briefing the media following the death of 34 initiates in the Eastern Cape this season. CRL Chairperson David Luka Mosoma says illegal schools account for the majority of the deaths.
“The number of deaths has escalated from 33 to 34. All illegal schools in the province must be closed with immediate effect. Those tasked with such responsibilities in terms of the Customary Initiation Schools Children’s Act. Provincial initiation act, children’s act, provincial initiation act, local municipalities, traditional leaders where these unfortunate incidents are taking place, must ensure that such schools are closed down.”
Clamp down on bogus initiation school
The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) has called on government to work with traditional leaders to clamp down on bogus initiation schools.
President of Contralesa, Lameck Mokoena was reacting to the death of initiates in initiation schools in the Eastern Cape.
According to Mokoena the number of the initiates who died at the initiation schools has now risen to 27. He says everyone needs to play their part in fighting the death of initiates.
“We said these on many occasions that people with no experience must not be allowed to run these schools. We call on those to be banned or blacklisted. All bogus initiation schools must be clamped down. We call on the government to play their role in making sure that they provide resources to royal leaders to monitor what is going on at these schools. We call upon parents to play their role.”
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane concerned about deaths at initiation schools [ 18 December 2021]
