President Jacob Zuma has urged provinces to intensify their efforts to ensure that there were no deaths during the winter initiation season.
He made the plea during a Freedom Day speech in Giyani in Limpopo on Wednesday.
He added that the Department of Traditional Affairs had mobilised all stakeholders including the South African Police Service‚ the National Prosecuting Authority‚ Department of Health‚ traditional leaders and communities to ensure that they carried out the government’s policy of zero tolerance for initiation deaths.
“We congratulate the Limpopo province on their achievement of ensuring no deaths during the initiation season.
“We urge all provinces to intensify their efforts in this regard‚” Zuma said.
Scores of initiates have died over the years at initiation camps across the country which traditionally mark the transition of boys into men. The secretive practice differs across cultural groups but generally involves boys camping for weeks‚ secluded from their families and women‚ learning lessons from their elders.
It includes circumcision with a spear‚ surgical blade or knife‚ which is often botched‚ resulting in death or serious injury‚ with some victims having to undergo penile amputations.
Zuma calls for zero tolerance for initiation deaths
He made the plea during a Freedom Day speech in Giyani in Limpopo on Wednesday.
He added that the Department of Traditional Affairs had mobilised all stakeholders including the South African Police Service‚ the National Prosecuting Authority‚ Department of Health‚ traditional leaders and communities to ensure that they carried out the government’s policy of zero tolerance for initiation deaths.
“We congratulate the Limpopo province on their achievement of ensuring no deaths during the initiation season.
“We urge all provinces to intensify their efforts in this regard‚” Zuma said.
Scores of initiates have died over the years at initiation camps across the country which traditionally mark the transition of boys into men. The secretive practice differs across cultural groups but generally involves boys camping for weeks‚ secluded from their families and women‚ learning lessons from their elders.
It includes circumcision with a spear‚ surgical blade or knife‚ which is often botched‚ resulting in death or serious injury‚ with some victims having to undergo penile amputations.
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