Traditional Leaders to account for deaths in their areas
The December 2015 initiation season has finally drawn to a close with many initiates having gone home in various parts of the Eastern Cape Province. Whilst many families celebrate the safe passage of their sons to manhood through imigidi (traditional celebrations) others mourn the death of their loved ones.
“We cry and mourn with the bereaved families during this difficult time in their lives,” said Cogta MEC Fikile Xasa.
In line with the circular issued by MEC Xasa at the beginning of the season outlining the responsibilities and obligations of traditional leaders to curb deaths, all traditional leaders in areas where deaths have occurred will be expected to provide full account.
To date, the Province is in under a dark cloud mourning the death of 40 young lives. The breakdown per district municipality is as follows, Chris Hani 15, Joe Gqabi 8, Alfred Nzo 6, OR Tambo 6, Amathole 4 and Buffalo City 1.
Commenting on the deaths, MEC Xasa said the number of illegal initiation schools continues to grow with underage children either undergoing the ritual without parental consent through kidnapped. Many initiates died due to dehydration because traditional nurses including family members refuse to give water to initiates.
Other deaths are as a result of assaults and septicaemia. MEC Xasa said these could have been avoided if there was constant monitoring and immediate referral to hospitals of the sick by parents and amakhankatha (traditional nurses).
“It is clear that in some parts of the Province parents and elders have taken a back seat and children taken over the running of the ritual. Chris Hani and Joe Gqabi recorded the high number of deaths due to hot weather conditions there. However, our plans have resulted in decreased number of deaths in OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo and zero deaths in Sarah Baartman and Nelson Mandela Metro municipalities. We will meet early next year to review our initiation monitoring strategy,” said MEC Xasa.
He thanked officials from the department for working hard to save lives through monitoring visits.
MEC Xasa added that the hands on support from various stakeholders including traditional initiation Forums, traditional leaders, Departments of Health and Social Development, SAPS, municipalities, Community Development Foundation of South Africa (Codefsa) made a difference thus ensuring the safe passage of the boys to manhood. Without their support the number of deaths could have been more.
Our monitoring teams reached out to more than 10 000 initiates of which in excess of 300 were rescued and sent to hospitals and traditional centres.
The chairperson of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders (ECHTL), Nkosi Ngangomhlaba Matanzima had this to say, “Our traditional leaders are not serious about initiation at all. It is only few of them who play an active role to save lives. Many traditional leaders are virtually absent and that frustrates the work of our monitoring teams on the ground.” Ends.
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