Speaker, the UDM expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the 30 initiates who recently died at various initiation schools in Mpumalanga. There are also unconfirmed reports that six initiates died in initiation schools in Limpopo as well, and we are saddened by this.
The tragic deaths of these young men could have been avoided had all the relevant stakeholders played their part. In particular, we appeal to traditional leaders as custodians of our culture to step up their efforts to oversee initiation schools in their areas of jurisdiction and not to leave traditional surgeons and amakhankatha [traditional nurses] to figure out what to do as they go along.
We applaud the intervention by the government. Many have complained about this intervention, but let us admit that it is this very intervention that brought a semblance of stability in the tradition.
At the same time, parents often wait too long before they report to authorities that their sons are experiencing problems. In such instances, parents should also be held accountable for any injury or loss of life, even if this occurred in a legal initiation school. Such punitive measures would ensure that parents do not willy-nilly shift the blame to the traditional surgeons and amakhankatha [traditional nurses] when something goes wrong. This important step will lead to early detection of problems. Once remedial action is taken, deaths at initiation schools will be reduced.
In the final analysis, the law must take its course for all those who are responsible for the deaths of young men at initiation schools, both in the aforementioned provinces and other provinces in South Africa. Thank you.