Parliament, Tuesday, 5 December 2023 – The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has noted with deep sadness the killing of initiates at an initiation school in Ngqamakhwe in the Eastern Cape today.
The committee extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased initiates. Its Chairperson, Mr Fikile Xasa, said the committee is behind the families during this extremely difficult time of sadness and loss. “We are with you in this tunnel of grief and wish you comfort,” said Mr Xasa. The committee condemns in the strongest terms the killing of the three initiates.
It calls on law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in investigating the cause of this incident. The committee has consistently called for initiation schools to be compliant with the provisions of Customary Initiation Bill to safeguard the lives of initiates against violent crimes. Furthermore, the committee is appealing to decent men during this initiation season to assist in strengthening the protection of initiates in their communities.
After its oversight visit to initiation schools in the Eastern Cape in July last year, the committee proposed that seasonal special courts should be established to deal exclusively with initiation cases to ensure initiation-related cases are prioritised and fast-tracked. The committee is reiterating this call and also calling that the Traditional Courts Act should assist with the establishment of seasonal special initiation courts.
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, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Ms Faith Ndenze
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 377 0686
Email: fndenze@parliament.gov.za
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