EAST LONDON– With the Eastern Cape continuing to experience a high number of deaths and injuries among initiates each year, the Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs(EC COGTA) has joined forces with the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders(Royal House) to strengthen safety measures ahead of the 2025 summer initiation season.
The provincial COGTA department hosted a two‑day workshop from 13–14 November 2025 at Alexander Golf Club in East London, training traditional caretakers and traditional surgeons on proper initiation practices, health protocols and ethical responsibilities.
The workshop also marked the official launch of the 2025 summer initiation season.
Eastern Cape COGTA MEC Zolile Williams urged parents to choose caretakers and traditional surgeons wisely, emphasising that initiation requires experienced, responsible adults. “Parents must remember that initiation is for everyone. They must make sure that they choose the best caretakers and traditional surgeons not just anyone who is free. Caretakers must teach boys what it means to be a man. When initiates return home, they must be able to conduct themselves responsibly in society,” MEC Williams.
He also stressed that both the Royal House and government are united in ensuring a safe season. “We want a decent, safe initiation season where boys return home healthy. Caretakers must ensure initiates are not abused and have all basic needs met. Traditional surgeons must not perform any procedure without approval papers from doctors confirming that a boy is fit for initiation.”
Furthmore every year, the province loses young men to unsafe initiation practices, often involving unqualified or untrained traditional surgeons.
In addition Chairperson of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoi‑San Leaders, Nkosi Mpumalanga Gwadiso, said the training sessions form part of a province‑wide effort to reduce fatalities. “As we launch the 2025 summer initiation season, we have already trained caretakers and surgeons in Alfred Nzo, OR Tambo and Chris Hani districts. Now that we are in Buffalo City and Amathole, we continue to ensure no boy dies or loses manhood due to incorrect practices,” he said.
“We also ask parents to work with us. Boys must be screened at hospitals and parents must provide proper approval forms. If doctors say a child is not fit for initiation, they must not go. We have seen boys die after being denied medical approval we are trying to prevent that.”
He added that parents have a critical role in monitoring their children during the initiation period.
Caretaker Luyanda Kweni from Mdantsane welcomed the training, saying unqualified individuals often put children’s lives at risk. “We are thankful for this meeting as some boys who went to the winter initiation as fresh as they they want to become caretakers or surgeons without experience. They don’t follow the rules and end up neglecting or abusing children. This imbizo helped us learn and we hope government continues with such programmes.”
This year, five boys from the OR Tambo District died during the winter initiation season a tragedy that continues to raise concerns about unsafe initiation schools.
Traditional surgeon Thembile Buyaphi from Cumakala said the workshop helped modernise outdated practices. “This event encourages us to treat initiates correctly. We often rely on old methods, but times have changed. We must change with them.”
MEC Williams also warned that failure to modernise and comply with health and safety regulations may force the government and courts to intervene. “If people do not change, the tradition of initiation may be shut down. Children today are not as physically strong as before, so we must adapt. Everyone must work together as fathers and community leaders to protect the tradition.”
Photographs:Supplied
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