Matshediso Selebeleng

Is South Africa enters its final initiation season of the year, teachers, parents and communities are preparing for the month-long rite of passage that ushers young boys into manhood and young girls into womanhood. In the North West, authorities say they have strengthened systems to ensure a safer and more compliant season, following challenges experienced during the winter initiation period. According to Thebeetsile Keameditse, spokesperson for the North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) has tightened screening processes and ensured that all practitioners involved in this season are properly certified. “All applications for initiation schools and practitioners — including principals, traditional surgeons, caregivers and traditional health practitioners — were verified in line with the Customary Initiation Act No. 2 of 2021. PICC also ran extensive capacity-building workshops from August to September 2025 across all districts,” said Keameditse. These workshops focused on compliance, safety standards, age restrictions, consent procedures and proper registration requirements. Traditional Councils also screened practitioners at community level before applications reached the PICC. To strengthen health and safety measures, the Department of Health trained traditional surgeons on 14 November 2025 in preparation for the summer season. “Taken together, these steps give confidence to the PICC that the 446 approved initiation schools meet the criteria set out in the CIA and are adequately prepared for a safe and compliant season,” Keameditse added. He said monitoring teams from the PICC, Traditional Councils and local initiation committees will conduct frequent site visits throughout the period. One of the biggest challenges for the department remains the emergence of illegal initiation schools, many of which operate under unsafe conditions. These contributed to the six deaths recorded in the province during the winter season. “The PICC approaches customary initiation with profound respect for its sacredness. Our responsibility is to ensure that every initiate emerges healthy, protected and respected,” he said. “We believe this can be achieved through partnership, education and enforcement.” To address illegal schools, the PICC and law-enforcement agencies have run awareness campaigns, school outreach programmes and media messaging to encourage parents to choose legally registered schools and to understand the importance of consent and medical screening. “Culture thrives when it is protected, not when it is exploited,” Keameditse said, expressing hope for a safe and incident-free season. “The PICC’s goal is clear: no family should lose a child in the name of culture. By strengthening preparedness, health measures and enforcement, the province is better positioned to prevent tragedies and ensure a dignified, safe initiation season.” Keameditse emphasised that anyone wishing to host an initiation school must register at least three months before the season begins. Applications must be submitted to the PICC, and written approval is required from the relevant Traditional Council or, if conducted on private land, from the landowner or occupier.