Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) has voiced its readiness for the upcoming winter initiation season which is still to be officially opened.
CHDM council speaker Jongumzi Cengani said the safety of initiates was prioritized during a council meeting on Wednesday, May 25.
The district initiation forum, led by the speaker presented a report and preliminary plans on the state of readiness.
The plan, he said, is aimed at curbing fatalities and challenges encountered during the last summer initiation season in November and December last year.
Of the 36 initiates that died, 12 were from the Chris Hani Municipal area.
Stakeholders in the forum include Departments of Health and Department of Social Development, traditional leaders, traditional surgeon, police, and local municipal initiation forums.
In affirming its state of readiness, the District Initiation Forum has put in place interventions which include:
- Reviving initiation forums and recapacitating the members on the provisions the Customary Initiation Act, No2 of 2021 which intends to provide for effective regulation of customary initiation practices and provide for the responsibilities, roles and functions of the various role players involved in initiation practices as such or in governance aspects thereof;
- Sharing of provincial plans that are geared towards eliminating deaths of initiates;
- Collaborative meetings with the SAPS Initiation Coordinators and all Station Commanders across the district;
- Trainings and District-wide awareness campaigns in preparation for the winter season targeting trainings of traditional surgeons and nurses.
“Regrettably, in the past, the district municipality recorded an increase in initiates deaths
and permanent injuries to the young initiates sent to initiation schools, and this was
devastating to us as well,” said Cengani.
Through this intervention, our intention as government is to ensure that we save lives and avert any undesirable eventualities.
“We once again appeal to community members, specifically parents and legal guardians, to acquaint themselves with necessary requirements well before the beginning of the season and engage with their local forum representatives should a need arise.”