The 2023 Winter Initiation Season officially started on 1 June to last until 31 July. As such, the Western Cape Government (WCG), together with initiation forums and community leaders, has worked hard to ensure the safety of initiates during this time.
The function of the Western Cape Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (WCPICC) is to coordinate all initiation schools, practices and activities in the province and in accordance with section 15 of the Act, to ensure safety of initiates and accountability for all role-players.
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) worked closely with local initiation forums to ensure all the necessary steps were followed to safeguard the well-being of initiates across the province and will continue to support all stakeholders involved in initiation to ensure the dignity and safety of all initiates.
The following has been done in preparation for the winter initiation season: . DCAS held information sessions with various stakeholders to ensure that all requirements in terms of medical screenings for initiates would be met.. DCAS provided consent forms to be completed and signed by prospective initiates, parents/guardians, responsible traditional carers, and traditional surgeons. Communities participating in initiation were encouraged to make use of the form as it stipulates common grounds of responsibilities between all the parties directly affected.. The WCPICC approved applicable forms received and provided to Initiation Forums for implementation. It further encouraged Initiation Forums with outstanding information to submit the applicable forms for registration to open and hold an initiation school.. DCAS is providing initiation forums with personal protective equipment (PPEs), water tanks, thermal blankets, fire extinguishers, fire beaters as well as metal fire buckets for mitigating risks.
The Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais, said: “The safety of initiates in the province is our top priority during initiation seasons.
“The initiation rite of passage is one that is culturally very important and significant and we will continue to work to ensure that initiation schools can safely guide our initiates through this time.”
The WCG welcomes all initiation schools approved by the WCPICC to run during the winter season. Initiation schools not yet registered with the committee are encouraged to do so urgently.
