Five young boys have sadly passed away in the winter initiation season in the Eastern Cape.
According to Daily Sun, the incidents happened at illegal initiation schools which also left several other boys injured.
Eastern Cape police have shut down six illegal initiation schools and arrested 37 people since the beginning of the winter initiation season on 14 June 2025.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs deputy minister Prince Xolile Ncamashe said parents are responsible for their sons’ deaths as they’re working with bogus traditional initiation practitioners.
“This is due to negligence, as many are not only defying laws regulating the custom of ulwaluko (initiation) but subjecting their sons to torture, injuries and even death, instead of ensuring their safety,” said Ncamashe, speaking during his visit to the Eastern Cape on Wednesday, 8 July.
He also promised a full investigation into all the deaths in the province.
A report by the provincial initiation task team states that one initiate died on 12 May in East London, two more deaths were recorded in Ngqeleni on 30 June and 4 July.
The fourth initiate died on 3 July in Lusikisiki, while the fifth initiate was badly beaten up at an illegal initiation school in Qumbu.
The report said two men, including a traditional nurse, have been arrested.
“Three boys from other illegal schools have also been rushed to hospital, one to All Saints Hospital and another to Queenstown Private Hospital,” read the report.
According to the report, all the deaths happened at illegal schools.
The report also states that the causes of deaths is still unknown, as no postmortems have been carried out yet.
“Police have opened 41 cases, arrested 37 people, and shut down six fake schools,” the report said.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Zolile Williams said the deaths were “disheartening” and could have been avoided.
He said the department had formed committees in each traditional council to help monitor circumcisions, especially after 29 boys died during last December’s season.
