Our province prides itself on the custom of ulwaluko (initiation).
Twice a year, thousands of boys leave for the mountains to undergo the rite of passage which culminates in them returning as men.
While the this tradition is meant to bring so much joy and happiness, it has equally brought so much sorrow and tears to some families whose children leave home healthy only to return in body bags.
Statistics of causalities read like a horror script. Between 2006 and January 2020, about 1,100 initiates died, while nearly 10,000 were hospitalised due to questionable practices at initiation schools.
In the same period, there were 320 penile amputations.
In 2023 alone, 52 boys lost their lives, 34 of those in the summer season, in their quest to become men.
In 2024’s winter initiation season, 24 initiates died and 113 were admitted to hospital.
Three needed penile amputations.
In most of these cases, the perpetrators of the heinous crimes walked away scot-free and continued with their evil practices, yet the laws protecting initiates have been in existence since 1996.
It is in that context that we welcome the sentencing of four people last week to terms ranging from between four to 15 years imprisonment for causing the death of a young initiate in 2023.
The main culprit was a 21-year-old at the time the crime was committed.
We welcome the sentencing of four people last week to terms ranging from between four to 15 years imprisonment for causing the death of a young initiate in 2023
It begs the question as to how is a young man, who still needs a lot of guidance himself, able to commit a crime of this magnitude.
Parents have been found to be complicit in many similar cases.
We support Cogta MEC Zolile Williams on his stance that parents who refuse to open cases or will not co-operate with investigations regarding illegal circumcisions, injuries or the deaths of their children could be jailed for defeating the ends of justice.
As the summer season draws nearer, the writing is on the wall: the time for collusion between parents and perpetrators to withdraw cases is over.
The message must be spread far and wide.
All hands must be on deck as the MEC has asked municipality speakers and ward committees to be strictly involved in the registration of initiation schools.
It is unacceptable that the reasons behind the deaths every year are similar: lack of proper care post-circumcision, dehydration, illegal schools and the assault of initiates.
It is now time that we draw a line in the sand and make it clear that such malpractices will never be tolerated again.
Anything to the contrary would mean the mantra “mabaye bephila, babuye bephila” (Let the boys return from the mountains alive) will continue to ring hollow if drastic measures are not taken against perpetrators.
DispatchLIVE
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