REPORTER
ON Monday, February 16, the minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Velenkosini Hlabisa, convened an all‑inclusive national stakeholder dialogue on customary initiation to strengthen coordinated national action aimed at ending initiation-related deaths and amputations.
Participants reaffirmed a shared commitment by government, traditional leadership, Chapter 9 institutions, and civil society to protect customary initiation while safeguarding the lives and well‑being of initiates.
Traditional leadership was recognised as central to the ownership, preservation and intergenerational transmission of customary initiation, working in partnership with all spheres of government.
Parental responsibility was highlighted as a critical pillar of prevention. Parents and guardians were called upon to actively participate in registration processes, medical screening, disclosure of chronic illnesses and ongoing oversight of initiation arrangements. The engagement resolved that 2026 must mark a decisive turning point in ending preventable initiation-related deaths, injuries and penile amputations.
The following interventions were agreed upon:
– Registration of initiation schools and personnel to be finalised by March 2026.
– Medical screening of initiates to be completed by April 2026 with no late entries.
– Cut‑off dates to be widely communicated to communities.
– Intensified action against illegal initiation schools, particularly those operating in remote areas.
– Enhanced collaboration between law enforcement and the justice sector to ensure investigations and prosecutions.
– Use of modern technology, including drones, clarified strictly as an intelligence and safety tool to detect illegal schools in inaccessible areas and not for surveillance of legitimate customary practices.
– Mandatory medical screening, improved clinical oversight and emergency response readiness in hotspot areas.
– Training, certification and registration of traditional surgeons and caregivers.
– Activation of all spheres of government with focused interventions in hotspot districts.
– Strengthened accountability for cases opened without arrests to be escalated within law enforcement structures.
– Confirmation that amendments to the Customary Initiation Act form part of the formal resolutions of the engagement.
The engagement was attended by leadership from all provinces, including traditional leaders, MECs, councillors, director generals, initiation committees and other involved stakeholders.
