Four Eastern Cape initiates die in space of 4 days, authorities point finger at illegal schools | News24

Four Eastern Cape initiates have died since the winter initiation season opened at the end of May. (Alexander Joe/AFP)

• Four initiates have died at initiation schools in the Eastern Cape since Thursday.
• The initiation season opened on 29 May.
• Authorities say three of the deaths were at illegal schools.

Four Eastern Cape initiates have died in just four days, with the bulk of them dying at illegal initiation schools.

Eastern Cape Cogta spokesperson Pheello Oliphant said that, as of Monday, four initiates had died since the winter initiation season opened at the end of May.

Oliphant added that two of the initiates had died in the Mzamomhle informal settlement near Gonubie, while another had died in the Ntafufu traditional area near Port St Johns.

News24 previously reported that an initiate had died in Butterworth on Thursday. The three other initiates are believed to have died between Thursday and Monday. 

Zolani Soyana, 18, from KwaYako, died in his initiation hut on Thursday afternoon after complaining of excessive thirst and shortness of breath.

READ | Eastern Cape initiate, 18, dies after complaining of thirst, shortness of breath

Oliphant said that three of the deaths “were as a result of illegal initiation”.

He added that three people had been arrested “for illegally circumcising under-age teenagers” and were in custody.

Police spokesperson Captain Siphokazi Mawisa said they “do not comment on the death of initiates” and referred News24 to Cogta.

Mawisa had also not confirmed any arrests at the time of publication.

Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders chair Nkosi Mpumalanga Gwadiso confirmed that four initiates had died since the start of the season.

Gwadiso added that the House was still investigating the circumstances around the deaths.

Oliphant said the provincial government was appealing to parents to look after their teenage children and protect them from being stolen by local “hoodlums” and taken to initiation schools.

“This is an unfortunate and regrettable situation that each initiation season unwarranted deaths of the initiates occur,” he added.