WHILE other families are preparing to welcome back boys who went to the initiation schools, the families of three initiates who died in a mysterious fire are busy with funeral arrangements.
Inathi Diko (16), Elethu Dume (17) and Azasakhe Jeremiah (17) died after they were trapped in their initiation hut that caught fire in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape on Tuesday, 20 June.
It's reported that the trio were not given permission by their parents to go to the mountain school.
According to Inathi’s mum Nomzamo Diko, the families had planned for the boys to go to the mountain school in December but they instead opted to join an illegal initiation school. '
ALSO READ: KA CHING: Here are SASSA July payment dates
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) spokesman, Mamkeli Ngam, confirmed the deaths and said this was the first incident reported in the province.
“The department is trying to establish the cause of the incident as one out of the three initiates died at the scene, while the others died in hospital due to their severe burns. As the department we keep the families of the deceased in our thoughts during this difficult time,” said Ngam.
In 2022, the season of Ulwaluko in the province saw fewer initiate deaths over the summer season, with 22 deaths compared to 49 in the previous one.
Deputy minister of Cogta Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe also sent condolences to the families during the launch of the National Initiation Oversight Committee (NIOC) awareness campaign on the Customary Initiation Act on Friday, 23 June.
He said: “This launch comes at a point when the customary initiation practice is facing certain challenges and needs its dignity and integrity to be restored. All stakeholders involved in initiation should work hand-in-hand with the NIOC during these awareness campaigns and most importantly, to support the NIOC in executing its legislative mandate of monitoring the implementation of and compliance with the Customary Initiation Act.”
