Mkhize calls for coordinated action to achieve zero deaths in customary initiation practices

By Nkhensani Chauke

Zweli Mkhize, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), has called for decisive action in response to deaths and mutilations linked to customary initiation practices.

COGTA received a briefing from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on its revised targets within the 2025/2030 strategic plan.

These targets include eliminating all illegal customary initiation schools (from 429 in 2024 to zero by 2029), reducing amputations in legal initiation schools to zero (down from 15 in 2024), and achieving zero deaths from legal initiation practices (down from 63 in 2024).

Mkhize commended these updated targets.

He stressed that achieving zero deaths and mutilations is not only a departmental imperative but a societal obligation requiring collaboration across various departments.

“This must be a focused, coordinated response. We cannot treat this as business as usual. The goal of zero deaths and zero mutilations is