The initiation summer season death toll has risen to five in the Eastern Cape after Sinalo Tabata of Whittlesea died of suspected dehydration on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old had only been at the initiation school for four days when he complained of dizziness and hallucination.
He is the first initiate to die in the Chris Hani district this season. Two deaths have been reported in Centane in the Amathole district, and two other fatalities in Matatiele in Alfred Nzo district.
The Eastern Cape House of Traditional leaders (ECHTL), the provincial Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA and co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) have raised concerns regarding the deaths. Cogta provincial spokesperson Mamkeli Ngam said authorities were starting to panic because deaths are being reported every 24 hours.
Cogta MEC Fikile Xasa will by next week have to report to Cogta Minister Dr Zweli Mkize about Tabata’s death, as he has been instructed he would now have to account for every fatality.
Tabata’s death came two days after Siphesihle Mlombeli, 17, of Maluti in Matatiele died on Monday after he allegedly committed suicide, by hanging himself.
The death of 18-year-old Tsepiso Nksoesa last week on Thursday in Leketlane village near Matatiele came hardly a week after Thembelihle Mapasa and Siphesihle Bobo, both 20, died from dehydration at Theko-Fihla near Centane.
Xasa and ECHTL chair Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana have requested traditional nurses to ensure that initiates receive enough water...