Five boys dead in three districts last week – Eastern Cape’s initiation season erupts into a crisis. Picture Credits: Daily Sun
By Duncan Mnisi
The Eastern Cape’s winter initiation season has taken a devastating turn, with five boys aged between 15 and 19 losing their lives in just one week. The deaths occurred across three districts: one in Buffalo City, two in Chris Hani and two in OR Tambo.
Speaking at a press briefing in Mthatha, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa described the deaths as a national tragedy. “The lives of our children are priceless. We cannot claim to uphold culture while allowing preventable tragedies to occur. This season must not spiral into a crisis,” he said, stressing that authorities “possess both the power and the responsibility to alter its course, and we must act decisively.”
Hlabisa warned that without urgent intervention, the situation could escalate into a “serious crisis” claiming even more young lives.
The warning follows a rise in illegal initiation schools operating without medical supervision. “These operations are criminal, unsafe, and potentially lethal,” Hlabisa said, calling for zero tolerance from communities and law-enforcement agencies.
So far, the Eastern Cape has made 21 arrests linked to illegal initiation activities — a figure the minister welcomed as “commendable,” though he emphasised that similar action must be taken across all provinces.
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi echoed the alarm, noting that deaths at unsafe initiation schools often stem from massive bleeding, infection, dehydration, or even assault.
Traditional leaders have also pledged to support the government’s crackdown. Earlier this year, they met with Hlabisa and committed to monitoring and reporting illegal initiation sites. “We must be actively involved,” said Nkosi Gwadiso of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders. “Initiation is a collective duty that demands vigilance from every household.”
The provincial government has outlined a multi-sectoral plan to prevent further fatalities, including:
- Surprise inspections of initiation schools, particularly those suspected of operating illegally.
- Rapid-response teams drawn from health, social development, education, SAPS and NGOs, ready to intervene at the earliest sign of danger.
- Community outreach programmes to educate families about the Customary Initiation Act and the risks of unregistered schools.
With the season running from late November through January 2026, authorities are urging parents and community members to report suspicious activity immediately and ensure that initiates receive proper medical care throughout the rite of passage.
The loss of five young lives serves as a painful reminder that cultural tradition can never come at the expense of safety. “One life lost is one too many,” Hlabisa said. “Every initiate must be guaranteed a safe return home, transformed and prepared to embrace the responsibilities of manhood.”
