Call for two-year initiation ban

TEMPORARY: CONCERN AFTER DEATHS OF 20 INITIATES

- Masoka Dube

The deaths of 20 initiates during the latest holiday season has led to traditional leaders calling for the temporary banning of initiation schools in the Eastern Cape.

The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) said the idea was to give stakeholders time to come up with a plan to avoid the deaths of initiates.

Contralesa national chairperson chief Mathupa Mokoena told The Citizen that something was wrong for one province to always experience the deaths of initiates every year and that serious measures were needed to address the issue.

"Contralesa is shocked to learn of the passing on of not less than 20 initiates during this summer initiation season. It is embarrassing that in this same province we are experiencing the same thing every year."

"We are calling for a two-year moratorium in the province. No one must be allowed to open an initiation school for two years."