Cultural Affairs and Sport
With regard to the ongoing winter initiation season:
(1) What measures are in place to ensure that initiations are conducted safely in the Western Cape;
(2) how much funds have been allocated to these measures for the current initiation season;
(3) how many initiates are expected to take part in the current initiation season?
[1] Communities are the custodians of cultural initiation whilst the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport aims at creating a safe and an enabling environment for the safe and effective rite of passage to responsible adulthood. To achieve this the following services are rendered:
[a] Training – Training is provided both to traditional surgeons and caregivers. To date training has been provided in first aid, infection control and fire management and awareness.
[b] Providing support to 36 Initiation Forums throughout the province
[c] Site management and control – Site management forms a fundamental aspect of initiation and the department liaises with landowners to facilitate the availability of appropriate land where necessary
[d] Provision of water – The department engages with municipalities to ensure that there is appropriate drinking water whilst initiation schools are in session. On sites where there is no water supply the department has procured water tanks to ensure accessibility to water for sanitation purposes.
[e] Monitoring – The department has a monitoring team which visit sites to identify early warning signs for interventions.
[f] hould anything unforeseen arise during the initiation process, the department intervenes by sending out a team to investigate causes and to provide the necessary support.
[g] Liaison with the Department of Health to ensure that the initiates have medical screening prior to initiation.
[h] Post season conferences/workshops are held to reflect on the past season as well as identify areas for training and improvement.
[2] The total allocation for the financial year 2022/23 amounts to R250 000.
[3] The amaHlubi, Basotho and amaXhosa communities practice the Customary Initiation in the province. This practice is one of the cornerstones of the culture of the above-mentioned communities. AmaXhosa mainly practice in the winter and summer season. For the 2022/23 financial year, winter season 369 initiates were taken through the rite of passage.
