Parliament, Thursday, 7 July 2022 – The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) calls on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prioritise the prosecution of cases relating to illegal initiation schools.
The committee is appealing to the NPA to ensure that those who break regulations on initiation face the might of the law. Furthermore, the committee wants the parents of illegal initiates to be under the spotlight of the law enforcement agencies to ensure that they too face consequences for their role.
Today the committee visited six initiation schools, two in Tsolo and two in Qumbu all under Mhlontlo Local Municipality. It also visited two initiation schools that are in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality.
It has observed that there are no deaths of the initiates in Qumbu area as AmaHlubi follow a good initiation practice and adhere to initiation regulations. In Tsolo, which is an AmaMpondomise area, the committee visited two initiation schools and found both schools are legal and had all the required documents.
The committee was informed that in the outskirts of Mhlontlo Municipality people are unable to access the facilities as a result there is occurrence of death of initiates. The total number of deaths of initiates that has been verified and confirmed is nine. In the Mhlontlo Local Municipality six initiates have died, in the King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality two initiates have died and one died in Ngquza Hill Local Municipality.
The committee is satisfied with the activities of the local initiation coordinating committees as well as the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee. The committee will conclude its oversight visits in the Eastern Cape at Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCM) tomorrow.
The BCM and Amathole District Municipality visits will take place due to challenges related to coordination in both municipalities and are emanating from the transition of the Local Government Elections that were held in November 2021, as well as the transition of the establishment of the District Initiation Coordinating Committee of both municipalities. The committee wants to assess the functionality of these structures and see how best to assist.
The programme of the oversight visit is as follows:
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DATE & TIME |
AGENDA |
VENUE |
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Friday, 8 July 2022 |
Meeting with the Buffalo City Metro
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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
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E-mail: fndenze@parliament.gov.za
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