The Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders says following the announcement made by President Cyril Ramaphosa to place the country under Alert Level 4, no new initiations will be allowed.
They say those who have already started with the process will proceed under strict conditions, which include amongst other things following the COVID-19 safety protocols.
The House added that the homecoming celebrations that are normally held at the end of this process are prohibited for as long as the country is still under the current risk-adjusted strategy.
This is another disappointing season for both parents and more than 2 000 prospective initiates. The risk-adjusted strategy allows only those that are already undergoing the process to proceed.
To everyone else, the wait is not over.
“We had the Premier’s Coordinating Council on coronavirus and we made recommendations to the National Coronavirus Council and out of the deliberations at the national level of which we are represented by the National House of Traditional Leaders, it came out that Ulwaluko (Traditional circumcision) is prohibited at Level 4, secondly initiates that are already in the school will be strictly monitored under the risk-adjusted strategy of the province meaning adhering to all COVID-19 regulations,” says House of Traditional Leadership Chairperson, Chief Langa Mavuso.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced SA’s move to Level 4 on Sunday:
Mavuso says there will not be any consultation with those affected by this announcement as this is a decision that affects the whole nation.
“I think after the president announced last (Sunday) night, everybody in the country and especially in the province is aware of the situation that the country is at now, so in situations like these, we need to take drastic decisions as leadership,” explains Chief Mavuso.
The government is appealing to the affected parties to adhere to the COVID-19 regulations as consequences would be dire for those who transgress.
