EASTERN CAPE - INITIATION SCHOOLS DEATH TOLL AT 10, 100 RESCUED AND 15 INITIATION SCHOOLS CLOSED

The death toll of initiates is steadily climbing in the Eastern Cape since the start of the Winter initiation season two weeks ago.

So far 10 initiates have died, over 100 rescued and 15 initiation schools closed.

Most of the initiation problems are occurring in districts, including Tsolo, Libode, Ngqeleni and Bizana in the Eastern part of the province.

Initiation monitors say pneumonia, dehydration and assault are the leading causes of fatalities.

Traditional leader Chief Gcobani Tyhali has urged parents to also play their role.

“The problem we encountering is the lack of cooperation with the societies, the parents are not playing their part as parents again these young boys are having their own rights, to practice. I think the peer pressure from other tribes are schooling together because some go to the bushes at the age of 15 and 16 when they go back to school they found others who have already gone to initiation school and humiliate them in front of girls,” says Tyhali.

We underwent a dangerous initiation
Some of the initiates go to the initiation schools without their parents' consent, and others end up going to illegal schools. Many of them have landed in hospitals and they now regret their actions.

“I would advise those of our age to act like us because we bypassed procedures. We underwent a dangerous initiation. We held a meeting in the afternoon and decided to go because we will be humiliated,” says Tyhali.

There have been no reported deaths in some areas of the province and many are expected to graduate in the next two weeks.

VIA - sabc.co.za