Any traditional circumcision and initiation this winter season will be regarded as a criminal offence that carries a fine, prison sentence or both.
This will also apply to female initiation or Intonjane.
In stating Driving home the uncompromising position taken by traditional leaders and the provincial government, Nkosi Langa Mavuso, deputy provincial chair of Contralesa, said on Tuesday that anyone flouting the Eastern Cape Customary Male Initiation Act and the Disaster Management Act could expect to face the full might of the law.
Punishment will be particularly severe on those operating these schools illegally this winter.
If found to be in contravention of the Eastern Cape Customary Male Initiation Act, they will face a R20,000 fine or a year in jail. If any initiate dies at such a school, the penalty is at least 25 years in prison.
In terms of individual transgressors, they will be liable for a fine between R1,500 and R5,000, imprisonment of up to six months or both if found to be contravening the Disaster Management Act.
Mavuso, who is also the acting chair of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders (ECHTL), said: “Both male and female initiation and any ceremonies relating to that are suspended this winter season.
“Offenders will be seen as intentionally defying traditional leaders and government, and their actions would be tantamount to intentional transmission of the coronavirus and the murder of young boys or girls.”
This comes after the Eastern Cape government and traditional leaders agreed to suspend the rite of passage to manhood for the winter initiation season due to the pandemic.
About 20, 000 boys intending to undergo initiation this winter will have to wait for the summer season, though there is a strong possibility this could be suspended as well.
Before taking the decision to suspend the winter traditional initiation season, the ECHTL, Contralesa and the provincial government consulted cultural communities practising the custom.
Co-operative governance & traditional affairs MEC Xolile Nqatha and Mavuso will be embarking on a programme to inform the public on the punishment to be imposed if people breach the regulations.
Nqatha said: “We want to persuade everyone to co-operate and ensure there are no illegal activities taking place. We must work together to ensure all those breaking the law are arrested. The decision is all about saving lives.
“Given the situation we are faced with, it would have been irresponsible to continue with the rite this season in the face of the Covid-19 crisis. This decision is in the deepest interest of our people.”
After the death of amaXhosa King Mpendulo Zwelonke Sigcawu on November 14 2019, the amaXhosa decided to observe a year-long mourning period in which no traditional initiations, weddings or other ceremonies would occur in 2020.
Nqatha said the amaXhosa stood by that decision and the Covid-19 regulations would help enforce it.
“As the government we will either in August or September sit down with traditional leaders to make an evaluation of the progress made in the fight against the coronavirus. We will consider whether we suspend the summer season as well.
“For now, we have all agreed on suspending only the winter initiation,” Nqatha said.
Mavuso said there was extensive consultation with communities and all had agreed suspension of the winter season would save lives.
“We took stock of everything to ensure we protect the integrity of the custom while stopping the spread of the virus to save lives,” Mavuso said.
Contralesa secretary-general Zolani Mkiva urged communities to respect the decision.
“If this virus cannot be stopped I believe we will be left with no other option but to postpone even the summer season. We will not act irresponsibly, we will at all material times as leadership of the institution put life before everything.
“The lives of our people is above anything. We will not plunge our sons into death,” Mkiva said.
Initiate deaths are an annual concern in the Eastern Cape.
Between June 2006 and December 2019, more than 620,000 initiates attended legal initiation schools in the province, while 37,000 attended illegal schools.
In this period, 845 initiates died, 320 had penal amputations and 8,156 were admitted to hospitals.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.