EC Initiates Deserve Better Care, Says Hlabisa as Death Toll Reaches 13

The Eastern Cape’s summer initiation season has once again been overshadowed by tragedy, with 13 initiates losing their lives. COGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has condemned the ongoing deaths, describing the situation as unacceptable and deeply troubling.

Hlabisa expressed shock that young, healthy men leave their homes for a sacred rite of passage, only to return as corpses. He attributed much of the crisis to illegal traditional surgeons, dangerous practices, and harmful myths surrounding initiation care.

A Brutal Pattern That Cannot Continue

Hlabisa said the situation amounts to a “slaughter”, highlighting how year after year, families are forced to bury children who enter initiation schools expecting spiritual and cultural growth.

The minister noted that last year’s summer season ended with 34 deaths, and warned that the current number of fatalities signals a continued crisis that the country cannot tolerate.

Heat, Dehydration and Dangerous Myths

Among the biggest contributors to this year’s fatalities is extreme heat and dehydration.

Hlabisa raised concern about a persistent belief held in some initiation schools: that depriving initiates of water will speed up healing.

The minister stressed that this belief is dangerous and must be confronted. According to him, dehydration is a major cause of death, and principals of initiation schools must ensure initiates are properly hydrated, especially during summer heatwaves.

Illegal Surgeons Under Scrutiny

Government and police operations across the Eastern Cape have intensified this year, leading to the arrest of 21 suspects linked to illegal initiation practices.

Hlabisa welcomed the arrests and said cracking down on unregistered and unqualified surgeons is critical to protecting the lives of young initiates. Many of the deaths recorded this season occurred at illegal initiation schools that operate without oversight, safety standards or trained personnel.

Authorities have also identified hundreds of illegal initiation schools, raising concern about the scale of the problem and the difficulty of monitoring the province during initiation season.

Communities, Parents and Caregivers Urged to Act

Hlabisa called on parents, guardians and community structures to take more responsibility for the boys entering initiation schools.

He emphasised that initiates need consistent monitoring, protection and care, especially in households where no adult male figure is available to supervise the cultural process.

The minister said the responsibility for keeping initiates safe does not lie with government alone. Families, traditional leaders, community elders and local organisations must work together to ensure that boys are not handed over to unsafe environments or illegal practitioners.

Government Efforts Under Way

Hlabisa said government interventions are being accelerated to prevent more deaths during the remainder of the season. These efforts include:

• strengthening monitoring teams

• shutting down illegal schools

• ensuring trained practitioners operate legally

• community awareness campaigns

• emergency response support for troubled initiation sites

The minister called for a united front that respects cultural traditions while prioritising the safety of initiates.

A Sacred Practice in Crisis

Initiation remains an important cultural tradition in the Eastern Cape, deeply rooted in identity, manhood and family heritage.

But the rising death toll, unsafe practices and unregulated schools continue to erode trust and place young lives at risk.

Many families across the province are now fearful of sending their sons to initiation schools, even legal ones, due to widespread reports of abuse, negligence and criminal behaviour by illegal surgeons.

The Road Ahead

The current death toll of 13 has renewed public debate on how initiation should be regulated and monitored.

Hlabisa reiterated that the focus must be on preserving the cultural sanctity of initiation while preventing further deaths. He urged communities to report illegal operations, support oversight efforts and place the wellbeing of initiates first.

For now, the summer season continues, and many families are hoping that no more lives will be lost before it ends.