High numbers of initiation schools expected to open as schools goes in recess
Deputy Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Obed Bapela, says that the department will work hard with its stakeholders such as traditional leaders, SAPS and NPA, to curb the high number of deaths and other incidents during the winter schools recess whilst expecting the opening of high number of initiation schools throughout the country as the schools are closing this week on the 24 June 2016.
The department is guided by our theme - “We Love Our Tradition, We Value Life of Our Youth” in pursuit of the “Zero Deaths campaign and we will follow it for the rest of this season. We are only disappointed that some initiation schools were opened before the schools holidays, some were illegal and that in the process we have lost three initiates, two in Mpumalanga and one in Gauteng. This is not what we had expected for this season,” says Deputy Minister Bapela.
Deputy Minister Bapela says that the safety of young boys is not the sole responsibility of government but it is a societal responsibility. He calls on parents and community members to play their part by ensuring that their loved ones return home safely, by only using legal initiation schools. He says responsible schools will not take any boy without the consent of their parents and only operate within government stipulated health guidelines. He further condemns a high number of abductions that have already been reported in areas that borders of Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. Some abductions involved women who were kidnapped to and attend female initiation schools.
“We are disappointed by some traditional leaders, who, instead of working with us, they work against us by allow the opening of illegal schools. Most of the areas that are problematic have been giving us trouble even in the previous years. Another challenge is where parents are not willing to open criminal cases of kidnapping of their children or when children themselves run away without the consent of their parents,” said Deputy Minister Bapela.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister has congratulated the Eastern Cape Province which is known to be leading in initiations deaths and botched initiations, that no incidences have been reported to this far. DM Bapela attended the Eastern Cape Initiation Launch held in Bisho on the 07 June 2016. The Deputy Minister together with the Eastern Cape MEC for Traditional Affairs, MEC for Education, MEC for Arts and Culture, MEC for Health together with the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, handed over the vehicles to the Initiations Coordinators and Monitoring Team.
The Deputy Minister calls on everyone to play their part and ensure that these schools become places of safety and adhere to the norms and standards of the culture of initiation. “Working together with government society can bring an end to unnecessary deaths and injuries by placing the safety of young men first and by using only legal initiation schools,” says Deputy Minister Obed Bapela.
The Deputy Minister further calls on all stakeholders to play their part in ensuring the safety of the initiates and protecting cultural practices by reporting illegal and bogus initiation schools to the nearest police stations across the country. He reiterated that people should use the hotline number - 0800 111 166 to report any wrongdoings, or even visit the nearest police station. To ensure active interaction through our social media platform #InitiationDTA.
Media enquiries:
Tsakani Baloyi
082 052 0892
Enquiries:
Legadima Leso
Head of Communications - COGTA
Cell: 083 378 9495
