The 2025 Summer Initiation Season is officially underway, marking the beginning of a significant cultural period for initiates, their families, and communities.
In preparation for the season, the provincial Department of
Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) says it has strengthened the capacity of
cultural practitioners by equipping them with the necessary skills and
resources to ensure a safe and dignified rite of passage.
COURTESY: Dept. of COGTAMEC Ricardo Mackenzie says a total of 680 cultural
practitioners, including traditional surgeons, traditional carers and
administrators have undergone capacity-building training in key areas such as
fire and environmental management, health and hygiene, specialised training for
traditional surgeons, and organisational development.
‘’In collaboration with the Initiation Forums, DCAS has
also revised the Initiation Minimum Standards to reinforce safety and
accountability. These standards now require Initiation Forums to be registered
under relevant legislation as responsible community organisations, ensuring
both the safety of initiates and compliance by cultural practitioners.’’
‘’DCAS is also actively distributing Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE), fire equipment, and Jojo water tanks to initiation schools
across the province,’’ he added.
Mackenzie announced that a digital initiation management
system approved by the Western Cape Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee
(WCPICC), will be utilised from this summer season.
‘’This innovative system is designed to improve the
efficiency of initiation applications and represents a significant step forward
in enhancing the protection and wellbeing of initiates.’’
Head of Department, Guy Redman, said a whole of society
approach is needed to ensure a safe and meaningful rite of passage
‘’[It] requires strong collaboration from all role players
involved from initiates, their families, and cultural practitioners to health
care practitioners, Initiation Forums, Traditional Leaders, Municipalities and
the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee. Each of them plays a crucial
role, and by working together, we can uphold this tradition with the utmost
care and respect for all.”
The Chairperson of the WCPICC Nkosi Ntsika Minenkulu Joyi
said, “Working hard as a collective with all stakeholders is bearing fruit in
ensuring compliance with the Customary Initiation Act (Act 2 of 2021) across
the province. We wish all initiates well as they undertake this important
journey, and we will continue providing support to ensure that initiations are
practiced safely in the Western Cape.”
Done By: Mitchum George
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