WC Government committed to improving safety for initiates

Imogen Vollenhoven
6 June 2013

Western Cape government today said it is committed to improving the safety of traditional male initiation in the province.

A consultative workshop on initiation was held at the end of last month.  

The links between MMC and traditional initiation practice were explored at the workshop and a case study was presented on an initiation safety project currently under way in the Eden District.

Ministerial Spokesperson for the MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport Daniel Johnson said through the department of health they are making sure that whatever the medical implications might be that those medical implications are mitigated against through medical support through the cultural and initiation forums.

“This will be done so that our initiates are able to go through this passage of right in a safe way while at the same time protecting initiation,” added Johnson.