Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa
By Lerato Mpembe
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, has convened an urgent meeting with senior traditional leaders from the Eastern Cape to address the alarming death toll and injuries linked to initiation schools.
The high-level meeting, held in Mthatha over the weekend, comes in response to 371 recorded deaths and 110 amputations over the past nine years. The discussions focused on the urgent need for intervention ahead of the upcoming winter initiation season, which has historically seen an increase in fatalities.
A Growing Crisis: Lives Lost in the Name of Tradition
Speaking after the meeting, Minister Hlabisa emphasised that the statistics represent far more than mere numbers.
“These are not just figures but the lives of young children—our future leaders. Many of these boys were the only children of their parents. This is a national tragedy that we cannot allow to continue,” Hlabisa said.
The meeting follows his emergency oversight visit to the Eastern Cape in December 2024, during which 28 young initiates lost their lives during the summer initiation season. The disturbing recurrence of deaths and life-altering injuries has raised concerns about the need for stricter regulation, increased parental involvement, and community education.
A Call for Immediate Action: ‘Zero Deaths Must Be the Target’
The meeting, which was attended by:
✅ Deputy Minister of CoGTA, Prince Zolile Burns Ncamashe
✅ Provincial CoGTA MEC Zolile Williams
✅ Chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, Kgosi Thabo Seatlholo
✅ Other key traditional leaders and government officials
focused on implementing sustainable solutions that would prevent deaths and injuries while preserving the cultural significance of traditional circumcision.
Hlabisa made it clear that the government and traditional leaders must take urgent, collective action.
“Circumcision does not kill. Negligence, poor monitoring, and lack of adherence to safety protocols are responsible for these tragedies. We must commit to achieving zero deaths in all initiation seasons,” he stated.
The gathered leaders unanimously agreed that business as usual is no longer acceptable.
“We cannot continue watching families burying their children year after year while we do nothing. The suffering must stop. This is an urgent matter that requires action now,” one senior traditional leader said.
Strengthening Oversight and Monitoring of Initiation Schools
One of the key resolutions of the meeting was to enhance monitoring teams and traditional councils to ensure compliance with legislation governing initiations.
Among the recommendations put forward:
✔️ Improved oversight by traditional authorities – Traditional leaders must take responsibility for ensuring all initiation schools adhere to health and safety protocols.
✔️ Parental involvement – Parents must be fully involved in the initiation process and not delegate their responsibility entirely to others.
✔️ Community education and awareness – Strengthening communication between traditional leaders, parents, and communities to ensure a better understanding of the legislation governing initiation.
✔️ Government support for compliance – The government must provide resources to assist monitoring teams in enforcing laws that regulate initiation schools.
✔️ Cracking down on illegal schools – Many fatalities have been linked to illegal or unregulated initiation schools, which operate without adherence to safety measures.
“As parents, we cannot transfer our responsibilities to our children who undertake this cultural journey. We have to be actively involved,” Hlabisa stressed.
Preserving Tradition While Prioritising Safety
The custom of initiation remains deeply embedded in African heritage, signifying the transition from boyhood to manhood. However, the escalating fatalities and injuries have cast a shadow over this sacred practice, prompting national debate about how best to preserve culture while prioritising the safety of initiates.
Hlabisa commended the traditional leaders for their commitment to ending the fatalities and protecting the dignity of the practice.
“Our discussions today show that we are moving forward together, recognising the important role of traditional leadership while also acknowledging that intervention is urgently needed. The goal is not to abolish the practice but to ensure it is safe and honourable,” he said.
Minister Hlabisa’s Recent Engagements on the Issue
Hlabisa has made initiation safety a top priority, holding multiple engagements with government bodies and cultural organisations.
Last month, he met with:
📌 The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission)
📌 The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE)
These meetings focused on the systemic issues surrounding customary initiation practices and explored ways to strengthen regulation and accountability.
Hlabisa has also met with constitutional bodies to discuss a national framework to reduce initiation-related fatalities, reinforcing his stance that “the lives of our children must be protected at all costs.”
Moving Forward: Key Takeaways from the Meeting
🔹 Zero deaths is the new standard – Traditional leaders and the government are committed to eliminating initiation-related fatalities.
🔹 Increased community awareness – A major public education campaign will be launched to ensure all families and communities understand the laws governing initiation schools.
🔹 Parental responsibility – Parents must actively engage in the initiation process to safeguard their children’s well-being.
🔹 Government and traditional leadership cooperation – Strengthened monitoring and enforcement will be prioritised.
Conclusion: A United Effort to End Initiation Deaths
The message from the Mthatha meeting was clear: Enough is enough. The tragic deaths and amputations suffered by young initiates cannot continue unchecked.
Minister Hlabisa has pledged to work closely with traditional leaders, government agencies, and community stakeholders to ensure the upcoming winter initiation season does not claim more lives.
“We owe it to our children and future generations to get this right. We cannot afford to fail them,” he concluded.
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