schools)
12 September 2006
The Commission for the promotion and protection of the rights of Cultural;
Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Commission); the South African Human
Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL)
have joined forces to hold public hearings on Koma/Ulwaluko/Lebollo (Initiation
schools) to seek lasting solutions to challenges that threaten the
institution.
The public hearings will be held in four places, namely, Bisho, Qwaqwa,
Hammanskraal, and Johannesburg. The rationale for choosing these provinces was
based on the high rate of deaths and injuries in those areas. Johannesburg will
provide an opportunity for other provinces such as North West and Mpumalanga to
participate in the hearings.
The proceedings will take place over a period of 12 days, with three days
spent in each hearing. Relevant and interested parties will be given an
opportunity to make oral and written submissions. The public will have until 22
September 2006 to make written submissions.
The hearings will focus on issues pertaining to the death and injury of
initiates and will include the following:
1. Determine the cause of high number of deaths and injuries in the
schools;
2. Assess whether or not the legislative and policy provisions relating to
initiation schools are adequate to address the current crises including minimum
age required for initiates. If not, should the laws be reviewed?
3. Investigate how many cases of deaths and other human rights violations
associated with initiation schools have been reported and whether any
convictions took place.
4. Determine what measures should be taken against traditional surgeons who do
not comply with legislative requirements.
5. Explore the role of parents in supporting the initiates and what support
structures are in place for family members who have lost their children.
6. Identify responses and roles of the government (in particular, Departments
of Health, Safety and Security, Provincial and Local Government, Social
Development) and Chapter 9 Institutions (such as the SAHRC, the CRL, and
NHTL).
Formal invitations will be sent to these relevant stakeholders and if
necessary summons will be issued against those who fail to take our efforts
seriously.
These hearings are a result of a roundtable discussion meeting on the spate
of deaths in initiation schools, which was held on 24 July 2006 by
representatives of CRL Commission; SAHRC and NHTL. Terms of reference are
available in the following websites: http://www.sahrc.org.za or http://www.crlcommission.org.za.
Enquiries: Sibusiso Nkosi
Cell: 082 855 4436
Issued by: National House of Traditional Leaders, Cultural Religious and
Linguistic Communities and South African Human Rights Commission
12 September 2006
