Heritage month — which is September — will see the holding of hearings into the causes of deaths at initiation schools.
The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural and Linguistic Communities (CLR) said on Tuesday that this was decided as a matter of urgency at a meeting held to discuss the recent spate of deaths at initiation schools.
This winter circumcision season there have been 19 reported deaths in the Eastern Cape and two in the North West.
On Monday, the CLR, the South African Human Rights Commission and the National House of Traditional Leaders agreed to hold urgent public hearings in all nine provinces for people to air their views on the matter.
The bodies will also review current legislation, read a CLR press release.
”The hearings are expected to identify the causes of the abuse that result in the death of the initiates, and establish systems of accountability within the administration structures of the schools.”
The meeting called on the criminal justice system to deal severely with those operating illegal initiation schools as well as those who unlawfully cause death and injury to initiates. — Sapa