News Desk Reporter
Fresh concerns have emerged over the safety of initiates as the 2026 winter initiation season continues across the country.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) said the death toll has risen to 43.
Police have arrested 40 people, while 58 illegal initiation schools have been shut down. A total of 116 criminal cases have also been opened.
Mpumalanga has recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 18 initiates losing their lives.
The Eastern Cape has reported 14 deaths, followed by North West with four. Limpopo has recorded three deaths, while Gauteng and the Free State have each reported two.
CoGTA said investigations are continuing. It warned that those running illegal initiation schools or endangering initiates would face legal action.
The latest figures have renewed concern over the safety of initiates. Deaths and serious injuries continue to be reported every winter initiation season, despite tighter laws and increased monitoring.
For many South Africans, customary initiation is a significant cultural milestone that marks the transition into adulthood. Yet illegal initiation schools and unsafe practices continue to claim lives and undermine the tradition.
CoGTA said it is working with traditional leaders, provincial governments, the South African Police Service and other stakeholders to strengthen oversight and enforce the law. The department also urged parents and guardians to ensure initiates attend only registered schools that comply with legal and safety requirements.
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa said the continued loss of life shows that more must be done to protect initiates.
“These figures are deeply concerning and serve as a stark reminder that much more must be done collectively to eliminate preventable deaths, injuries and criminal activities associated with customary initiation,” he said.
Hlabisa said protecting initiates is a shared responsibility involving families, traditional leaders, communities, law enforcement agencies and government.
“Respect for tradition must go hand in hand with respect for the law and every initiate’s constitutional rights to life, dignity and safety. Every initiate deserves to return home safely and with their dignity intact. This requires all of us to play our part,” he said.