14 initiates die, MEC blames parents

14 INITIATES DIE
The government has blamed parents for letting their children in the hands of bogus initiation schools.

The deaths of young boys at initiation schools continue as 14 young men have died in the in Eastern Cape during winter initiation that has concluded this weekend.

According to the Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs of the deceased initiates died because of illegal circumcision, dehydration and a condition called septicemia. The latest death was caused by fire after the hut the initiate was sleeping in caught fire.

Septicemia is an infection whereby a bacteria, virus or fungi enter the blood stream of a person then spread through out the body. The Eastern Cape’s MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Zolile Williams blames irresponsible parents for the death of their children.

14 initiates die, MEC blames parents
Government blames parents for allowing bogus initiation schools to take their children. Screengrab from SABC News

He said if parents choose to take their children to registered initiation schools, these kinds of problems will end. Instead, parents still entrust unregistered initiation schools to continue taking care of their children.

“Parents continue to allow their kids to be circumcised by untrained surgeons and it’s difficult for the department to do anything when parents hide the schools and also participate illegally in that process,” said Williams.

A parent Lusanda Makapula(47) who spoke to Ezitshisayo said her son and her cousin’s son are going to the initiation school this end of this year.

“It is scary to think that my 18-year-old may die just like that. I pray everyday that my son comes back alive. I feel for the families who lost their children at the initiation school. Government must ensure this process is safe for our children, we cannot afford to lose our children just like that,” she said.