By Akani Nkuna
South Africa recorded 669 initiation-related deaths and 124 penile amputations in almost a decade, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa said on Monday.
“As long as these men are still alive [penile amputation] is something they cannot ignore,” he said. The initiation rite was meant to be a positive and meaningful passage, he added.
ALSO READ: Three accused of killing Pretoria Bolt driver abandon bail
Hlabisa made the remarks at a customary initiation stakeholder dialogue at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.
“This cannot be attributed to culture. Culture does not kill, and culture should not result in penile amputations, which is largely attributed to negligence and incorrect practice. This is a tragedy,” he said.
Government representatives, traditional leadership, civil society and community stakeholders convened at the dialogue to address the persistent harms linked to initiation practices, including fatalities, injuries and illegal initiation schools.
Hlabisa said the 669 deaths were recorded from 2016 to December 2025, adding that they represented more than a statistic, but the shattered dreams and inflicted pain on survivors.
He said 48 initiates died nationwide in the most recent initiation period, which ended two months ago.
He said it was a “shame” on those entrusted with running initiation schools.
ALSO READ: Weekend round up | Storms leave three dead, South Africans are leaving the electricity network, DA picks Kingsol Chabalala as Emfuleni mayoral candidate
Stakeholders had a mandate to ensure initiates returned home safely through cooperation, he said, but added: “This engagement is not about blaming anyone, and should not be about making excuses why.”
But, he said, “there can be no acceptable reason that can be given as to why children must die”.
He appealed to traditional leaders and initiation school administrators in particular to work together for the common goal of initiate safety.
ALSO READ: Madlanga Commission postpones Witness F testimony to final day after hospitalisation
He said protecting cultural principles for future generations would not be possible amid rising deaths and penile amputations.
He said that harmful stereotypes could be addressed if leaders revived more traditional practices that made initiation safer.
“We want to appeal to you, can you advance your wisdom, your experience, the good practices that [ensured] every season, every year, initiative returned back home alive,” Hlabisa said.
He called on conference participants to propose solutions “even drastic solutions”, to ending the deaths and mutilations, while keeping the ritual going.
INSIDE METROS