Initiation deaths spark concern during the 2026 winter season

[00:00:00]We focus on another very sad story. I'm talking here about the death toll from the 2026 winter initiation season, which has risen to 43, renewing concerns about the safety of initiates despite years of awareness campaigns and government interventions. Mpumalanga has recorded 18 deaths, the Eastern Cape 14, Northwest 4, Limpopo 3, Gauteng 2, and the Free State 2. Every year, families lose their young lives to dehydration, infections, assaults, and illegal initiation schools, raising difficult questions about accountability, cultural practices, and whether enough has been done to protect the initiates. We unpack the crisis with the Contralesa president, Hoshi La Mac Mogale. Hoshi Mogale, thank you so much for your time.

[00:00:49]I suppose I having had to deal with this issue, talking to you over the years on various platforms, I couldn't ask you what the problem is because it seems to be same old, same old, and one wonders whether we will eventually win the war against these unnecessary deaths that affects our children year in, year out.

[00:01:19]>> Thank you very much, uh, leadership. Indeed, uh, we are in this crisis mode.

[00:01:26]A crisis mode where we are losing these innocent young boys for no reason.

[00:01:33]Want to start by conveying our heartfelt condolences to the parents of these young boys, um, who died, so tragic.

[00:01:43]As Mpumalanga, it is so unfortunate because, as we said before, we are in this mess simply because of one of our own, senior leader in the province, who gave instruction that, um, Ingoma old or principals of those initiation schools must not allow doctors to come and assist for whatever reason?

[00:02:08]That's what caused those many deaths because in 2 days we lost not less than 12 uh initiates.

[00:02:14]Indeed, uh we are saddened by this passing and uh we are saying to those who refused those young kids to get help, they must be um um held accountable.

[00:02:27]And even the person who gave instruction, I think the law must take its course. That's where we are as the Mpumalanga ANCs Contralesa. We are so saddened. We just hope one day someone will listen because uh as we suggested earlier on, but this legislation needs some amendment because currently uh this legislation is not assisting us. Among other things, there is a this uh uh provision initiation coordinating committees and even the national one at the New York. All of those structures don't have teeth. They can't bite, my leader. Yes, we are so saddened indeed by the passing of these young boys um in at our schools.

[00:03:07]>> I suppose for me it's not enough to say one of our own without really mentioning who that person is. Uh point number two, I suppose it's also not uh enough for Contralesa to express hope that he or she will be held accountable. And I suppose you also on your own need to make sure, interact with the police or whoever else that needs to exert uh accountability on on their part even from your structures as Contralesa. If you can just give us the details. Who is this uh one of your own who said uh medical doctors can't participate in making sure that um the our children are safe. And have you interacted with the police among others to say, but this is a person that really should be held accountable for this.

[00:03:56]>> I wish I can happily and freely name him.

[00:04:01]But he is one senior leader in the area of Ngangala.

[00:04:08]Because they were in contact contact with a our police.

[00:04:14]They have been investigating the matter.

[00:04:16]So, revealing his name might jeopardize our case.

[00:04:20]Let's allow the police to do their work.

[00:04:23]But uh leadership as long as this initiation school is run by politicians we'll find ourselves in this mess.

[00:04:34]The question is why was the customary initiation act uh reduced traditional leadership into ceremonial monitors only?

[00:04:46]There was a time where as a traditional leader I had all the power was if someone for example opened an illegal school I would take my men or the troop go in there and uproot it and take the perpetrator hand him over to the police.

[00:05:05]It was so easy and people knew that if they tried to have those schools that are illegal the Hosi or Inkosi would come in and really uproot this person. But the act as it stands those powers have been taken away from traditional leadership.

[00:05:21]They have been given to politicians.

[00:05:24]Politicians are the ones who can give directions.

[00:05:27]And from there the structures that were formed the ones that I referred to the customary um the provincial initiation coordinating committee those structures unfortunately >> [snorts] >> as well it is so diluted.

[00:05:42]In it you find people who are not even initiated who must talk about this initiation practice while they don't have any experience about it?

[00:05:52]Until and unless the act, my leader, is uh amended to accommodate traditional leadership and even to include many of our suggestions because we said the act must be amended, we are trying to avoid things like this.

[00:06:09]Now, even if something can happen, my leader, all I can do is to phone the police.

[00:06:15]The police will also go to the prosecutor. The prosecutor, if depending on the mood, um will take the case. If not, they'll say, "No, the case is not winnable." I can tell you now, in one traditional leader, there were there were five initiation schools that were illegal. The hoisie went and opened a case.

[00:06:34]It ran until those initiation schools completed their session while the case is not yet to be heard. Hence, we are saying, "Bring those powers to our kings, queens, and traditional leaders.

[00:06:47]You'll see miracle." No one could really play with the lives of our our young initiates, my leader.

[00:06:53]>> I I would have thought that these are serious discussions that from time to time you'd have with government. I mean, I've seen President Cyril Ramaphosa recognizing the traditional leadership, also talking about the importance of holding hands with yourselves. I've seen premiers also doing the same and many other political leaders as well. Um I would have assumed that every time you get that opportunity as traditional leadership, you will engage them on those issues.

[00:07:23]>> A very good question, a very educated question, my leader.

[00:07:26]Indeed, we engaged the presidents. I led a delegation of Contralesa.

[00:07:32]Yes. I led a delegation of Contralesa to Mr. Mkhize.

[00:07:37]We went there and even presented our proposals. We met Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

[00:07:43]We presented our proposals. Went to Parliament itself. We presented our proposal to the select committee.

[00:07:49]Unfortunately, all our proposals, I suspect, are busy gathering dust because they were not taken. The act came out as was for because our suspicion is that this legislation was crafted by a consultant, not someone who who is practicing this legislation practice, my leader.

[00:08:07]>> Well, let's leave it at that and thank you very much, sir, for your time. We really appreciate it. We hope that the body count won't go up because often times it does, but thank you, sir, for talking to us.

[00:08:19]That is a Contralesa president, the Kgoshigadi talking to us about this very, very, very serious issue.