Parliament, Wednesday, 28 May 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) on Tuesday called for a united, multi-departmental and national response to end the death and mutilation often associated with customary initiation practices.
The Department of Traditional Affairs briefed the committee on its revised targets in its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, which now lists clear five-year targets, including eliminating all illegal customary initiation schools (from 429 in 2024 to zero by 2029), zero amputations in legal initiation schools (down from 15 in 2024) and zero deaths from legal initiation practices (down from 63 in 2024).
Welcoming the revised targets, committee Chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize said these zero targets are not just a departmental issue but a societal imperative requiring cooperation with various other departments. “This must be a focused, coordinated response. We cannot treat this as business as usual,” the Chairperson said. “The goal of zero deaths and zero mutilations is not symbolic. It is a constitutional and moral obligation.”
The committee raised concerns about the resources available to meet these targets and the nature of the interventions planned and stressed that budget constraints cannot justify policy failure. “No death should be tolerated due to budget constraints. We must innovate and collaborate where we lack capacity,” said the Chairperson. Some members also stressed the importance of community structures in reaching these zero targets, stressing the importance of traditional councils and local partnerships to ensure the safe and dignified practice of cultural rites.
The committee called for a multi-departmental approach, including the ministers and departments of Health, Social Development, SAPS, Justice, and the relevant premiers to assess gaps, promote collective accountability and ensure every department contributes meaningfully toward the target.
Calling for a coordinated response, the committee resolved to invite these stakeholders once all consultations are complete to outline to the committee the progress toward the zero-death target and to see how systemic weaknesses can be collectively addressed. “Every department should play its role in the value chain,” the Chairperson said.
The committee reaffirmed the importance of community-level partnerships, including traditional councils, local committees and the families of initiates. The committee also reaffirmed the importance of customary initiation as a proud rite of passage that must be protected by government and traditional authorities. “Initiation should not be a death sentence,” said the Chairperson. “When we speak of zero deaths and zero mutilations, we speak of the sanctity of life. We owe it to every child, every family and every community to make that promise real.”
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COGTA, DR ZWELI MKHIZE.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Name: Alicestine October (Ms)
Cell: 083 665 4345
E-mail: aoctober@parliament.gov.za
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