Parliament, Wednesday, 6 July 2022 – The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has expressed its deep concern with the functioning of illegal initiation schools in the Eastern Cape.
It calls on the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) to close all schools operating illegally after due processes have been followed in line with Section 15 of the Customary Initiation Act of 2021. This follows the committee's oversight visit to various initiation schools in the Eastern Cape today. The schools are situated in the Nyandeni and Ngqeleni areas.
The first initiation school visited by the committee in Xelo in Nyandeni was found to be operating illegally. Members of Parliament, together with provincial stakeholders, found the school full of underage initiates. The school was also being operated by a previously convicted traditional surgeon who was incarcerated for three years for operating an illegal initiation school. Despite running away a case was opened against him and the parents of the under-age boys.
The second school the committee visited was in Zandukwana in Nyandeni. The committee was satisfied with how the school is operating with all initiates looking in good health. Its only concern was the lack of proof that the initiates had been screened before attending the initiation school.
The committee further expressed its deep concern with the increase of illegal initiation schools in the Eastern Cape and called on the PICC to be better organised and respond effectively to closing down and preventing illegal initiation schools from opening. The committee expects immediate action and feedback from the PICC by Friday, 8 July, when it concludes its oversight visit in Buffalo City Metro Municipality.
Committee members have also requested the province to confirm the number of deaths and the action taken by the PICC on illegal initiation schools. A detailed report must be presented to the Committee on Friday.
Tomorrow, the committee will visit Mhlontlo Local Municipality which includes Qumbu and Tsolo where six deaths have already been reported. The primary concern of the committee is the health and well-being of the initiates and the prevention of further deaths. The committee will also visit initiates who have been hospitalised due to serious challenges related to the actual circumcisions.
The programme of the oversight visit is as follows:
|
DATE & TIME |
AGENDA |
VENUE |
|
Thursday, 7 July 2022 |
Meeting with Local Houses/Traditional Councils in the area
|
Mhlontlo Local Municipality |
|
Friday, 8 July 2022 |
Meeting with the Buffalo City Metro
|
Buffalo City Metro Municipality |
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, MR FIKILE XASA.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Faith Ndenze (Ms)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8738
Cell: 081 377 0686
E-mail: fndenze@parliament.gov.za
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