African Human Rights Commission and National House of Traditional Leaders on
initiation schools
25 July 2006
The commission for the promotion and protection of the rights
of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRLC), South African Human
Rights Commission (SAHRC) and National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL) held
an urgent high profile meeting at the Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg to
discuss the spate of deaths in initiation schools that has plagued the
country.
The meeting, which was convened by the Chairperson of the
CRLC, Dr Mongezi Guma, was held on Monday, 24 July 2006, to look at ways of
curbing the senseless deaths currently taking place in initiation schools.
The CRLC was represented by Dr Mongezi Guma, Chairperson, Mrs
Pumla Madiba, CEO; SAHRC was represented by Mr Jody Kollapen, Chairperson,
Advocate Tseliso Thipanyane, CEO; and the NHTL was represented by Mr Abram
Sithole, CEO and Kgosi Malisela Dikgale.
The meeting agreed to urgently hold public hearings in all
the provinces to provide space to the public to air their views on the matter,
while reviewing current pieces of legislation. The hearings are expected to
identify the causes of the abuse that results in the death of the initiates and
establish systems of accountability within the administration structures of the
schools. The hearings are expected to be carried out in September to coincide
with Heritage Month.
All the stakeholders made a promise to work towards a common
goal of eradicating these deaths and they pledged to make 2007 a safe year for
the initiates. Since the start of the winter season more than 16 young boys
have lost their lives. The stakeholders also urged the criminal justice system
of the country to deal severely with those who operate illegal initiation
schools and those who unlawfully cause the deaths and injury of the
initiates.
The stakeholders would like to send a message of condolences
to the families of the victims and promises to do all in its power to prevent
further occurrences of such incidents.
For further inquiries please contact:
Sibusiso Nkosi
Communications and Marketing Officer
Tel: (011) 339 1775
Cell: 082 855 4436
Issued by: National House of Traditional Leaders, Cultural
Religious and Linguistic Communities and South African Human Rights
Commission
25 July 2006
