North West Launches Customary Initiation Act Campaign to Curb School Deaths

The launch follows a troubling winter initiation season in which more than 100 initiates had to be rescued from unlawful schools, while six young initiates tragically lost their lives.

The National Oversight Coordinating Committee (NOCC) and the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) are set to launch a major awareness campaign on the Customary Initiation Act (CIA) in an effort to prevent further deaths and injuries at initiation schools in the North West.

The campaign will be officially launched on Thursday, 21 August 2025, at the Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa Traditional Council in Dinokana, marking a pivotal step in tightening safety and accountability within initiation practices.

Addressing Tragic Deaths and Illegal Initiation Schools

The launch follows a troubling winter initiation season in which more than 100 initiates had to be rescued from unlawful schools, while six young initiates tragically lost their lives. According to the PICC, many of these schools were illegal operations run by opportunists who sought profit at the expense of cultural integrity and human life.

The campaign’s primary objective is to achieve zero deaths during initiation seasons, ensuring that cultural practices remain both safe and lawful. The initiative will focus on strict enforcement of the CIA, collaboration between traditional authorities and government, and community-level monitoring to root out unregistered schools.

Community and Leadership Support

The campaign will be attended by several high-profile figures, including:

• Ikosi Vembi William Mahlangu, Chairperson of the National Initiation Oversight Committee (NIOC)

• Kgosi Godfrey Gasebone, Chairperson of the North West PICC

• Kgosi Thari Maotwe, Chairperson of the North West House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders

• Traditional leaders, government representatives, and community stakeholders

Kgosi Gasebone expressed strong support for the initiative, stating that illegal schools driven by greed will not be tolerated.

“We call upon all traditional school principals to work with local traditional authorities, the department, and the PICC to ensure compliance and approval of hosting initiation schools. If we all comply, this will go a long way in safeguarding the lives of our young people,” he said.

What the Customary Initiation Act Provides

The CIA was enacted to protect, promote, and regulate the practice of initiation, while preserving its cultural significance. The Act outlines clear norms and standards to prevent exploitation, abuse, and avoidable deaths.

Key provisions of the Act include:

• No forced attendance: Initiation must be voluntary, and no individual may be coerced into joining.

• Minimum age requirement: Children under 16 are strictly prohibited from attending initiation schools.

• Parental consent for minors: Those between 16 and 18 may only participate with written parental consent.

• Regulation of traditional surgeons: To qualify, a surgeon must be at least 40 years old, have undergone initiation more than a decade earlier, and must have served as a mentor for at least five years.

• Approval deadlines: Principals of initiation schools must apply for official permission to operate by 3 October 2025 for the upcoming summer initiation season.

The Act also places strong emphasis on protecting life, preventing injuries, ensuring dignity, and safeguarding initiates from any form of abuse. It further regulates governance structures around initiation, aligning cultural practice with South Africa’s constitutional and legal framework.

A Shared Responsibility

Authorities emphasise that the protection of young initiates is a collective responsibility. Parents, traditional leaders, and communities are being called upon to play an active role in ensuring that initiation schools operate within the law.

By raising awareness and promoting compliance, the NOCC and PICC hope that this campaign will not only reduce fatalities to zero but also restore confidence in initiation as a valued cultural practice.