APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) South Africa’s law enforcement agencies should investigate and bring to book those responsible for the recent deaths of 28 young males at initiation schools in the Eastern Cape province, a senior official has said.
Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities cahirperson David Mosoma made the call on Tuesday after revealing that 28 young men died at the hands of their handlers at camps during the current summer initiation season.
Appealing to law enforcement agencies to look into the issue, Mosoma said the commission would convene in January 2024 to consider appropriate actions to end the deaths of the initiates in the province.
“The commission hangs its head in deep pain and sorrow at the unnecessary and senseless deaths of the initiates in the Eastern Cape province,” he said.
According to him, there was a crisis of accountability and disregard of the rule of law, and this brought into disrepute the cultural practice of initiations in the province.
The chair said prior to the winter initiation season this year, the commission had convened an initiation meeting where the relevant stakeholders were in attendance – including traditional leaders.
“Far-reaching resolutions were taken to curb and end the deaths of the initiates based on the principle of zero deaths,” Mosoma said.
He added: “Unfortunately nothing significant has changed because strategy after strategy has not moved the needle of deaths to zero.”
In this regard, the chair said traditional leaders must be held to account for opening initiation schools, and failure to enforce compliance with the act as well as the resolutions of the commission.
NM/jn/APA