Initiation schools to resume after two years of suspension
LIMPOPO
The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) has announced the resumption of its winter initiation school season.
Contralesa president, Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena said the decision was taken after extensive consultation with various communities that practise the custom of rite of passage virtue of the powers vested in the Institution of Traditional Leadership as the sole Custodian of the African Traditional Customs, Rites and Rituals.
The decision comes after two years of its suspension throughout the country due to covid-19 pandemic.
According to kgoshi Mokoena merely recognised traditional leaders with authentic permits would be allowed to operate the initiation winter schools.
He warned that bogus initiation schools will not be tolerated.
Mokoena also advised traditional leaders to shirk overcrowding during the initiates.
He urged those who don’t have legal papers to apply for them as soon as possible.
Limpopo health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba pledged health care support during traditional male circumcision to avoid unnecessary deaths during circumcision season.
MEC Ramathuba had a meeting with Limpopo House of Traditional Leader, Kgoshi Malesela Dikgale and Coghsta office in Polokwane.
She applauded the leadership of the House of Traditional Leaders for their cooperation, understanding for not holding the initiation schools during the two years of Covid-19 pandemic and their assistance in providing our vaccination teams to utilise their Traditional Councils as vaccination sites.
“We will be dispatching our Covid-19 response team, medical doctors, environmental health practitioners and nurses in all our districts to ensure screening, vaccination and providing healthcare support to the initiates throughout the circumcision season to ensure safety to all the initiates,” said Ramathuba.
