CoGTA and the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders have partnered with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to mitigate the deaths and injuries of abakhwetha during the coming Summer Traditional Initiation Season.
This was announced by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the House Mzwethemba Nkantsu during the meeting of the Provincial Initiation Task Team (PITT) in Bhisho, today. The meeting was attended by representatives from various key stakeholders including District and Metro Traditional Initiation Forums, South African Police Services, Sector Departments and NGOs.
“The partnership with the NGOs is an effort to ensure the safe passage of boys to manhood and further mitigate the challenges facing the initiation custom in our Province. Through this partnership, we have trained iingcibi and amakhankatha throughout the Province to sharpen their skills on the work they do,” said Nkantsu.
A total of 460 iingcibi and 520 amakhankatha have been trained throughout the Province except for Sarah Baartman.
He added that the NGOs are Right to Care, Vusizwe and the Society for Family Health (SFH) which will provide support during the monitoring visits at municipal level including the marketing and publicity campaigns.
Nkantsu said sessions had been organised to empower traditional leaders to adhere to the provisions of the Customary Male Initiation Practice Act. He said the monitoring teams are ready for the season save for the Sarah Baartman District which continues to be affected by challenges that impact to negatively its functionality.
The House, he said, has noted with concern the lack of participation by some traditional leaders in the initiation monitoring programmes. To this end, traditional leaders from the House will participate in the monitoring programme in their constituencies.
“As custodians of culture, customs and traditions, members of the House have a responsibility to beef up the work of the monitoring teams for a death and injury free season. Our efforts alone will not succeed hence we call upon parents, families and communities at large to work with us to prevent unnecessary deaths and injuries during this period,” he said.
He added that awareness campaigns have been ongoing from October 2018 using various media and communication platforms.
Nkantsu said the circumcision of underage boys remained a challenges in some area of the Province including Matatiele and Mount Fletcher and this is a serious violation of the Act.
“The Act is explicit that 18 years remains the official age limit for any boy who wants to be initiated. Those who violate the Act must be arrested and have their days in court and finally serve their time in jail. The Act is applicable throughout the Province without exception.”