9 boys pass away in Eastern Cape as illegal initiation schools sparks concern

The deaths of nine boys at initiation schools in the Eastern Cape has raised concern as Parliament continue to conduct oversight visits in the province.

Since the start of the initiation season on 17 June, nine boys have died.

The deaths were accounted for at initiation schools in the King Sabatha Dalindyebo, Mhlontlo and Ngquza Hill local municipalities.

The National Assembly’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has since called the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prioritise the prosecution of cases relating to illegal initiation schools.

“The committee is appealing to the NPA to ensure that those who break regulations on initiation face the might of the law.

“Furthermore, the committee wants the parents of illegal initiates to be under the spotlight of the law enforcement agencies to ensure that they too face consequences for their role,” the committee’s chairperson, Fikile Xasa said in a statement on Thursday.

Xasa said the committee’s primary concern was the health and well-being of the initiates as well as the prevention of further deaths.

“The committee was informed that in the outskirts of Mhlontlo Municipality people are unable to access the facilities as a result there is the occurrence of death of initiates.

“The total number of deaths of initiates that has been verified and confirmed is nine. In the Mhlontlo Local Municipality six initiates have died, in the King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality two initiates have died and one died in Ngquza Hill Local Municipality,” he said.

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