The SAHRC is shocked by the tragic death of 5 youths during an initiation camp at Ratanda in Heidelberg Gauteng. We welcome the fact that people have been arrested on charges of murder.
The SAHRC's preliminary report into cultural initiations released during October 2001 has been vindicated. In that report we had established that a number of rights are being violated: human dignity, life, freedom and security of the person, freedom of movement and residence, health care, food, water and social security, and education but to mention a few.
In that report we cautioned that the practice of initiation is open to abuse "because of the mushrooming of initiation schools and the moneys families have to pay for their children to attend them. With unemployment and retrenchment rife in our country, people see this culture as an opportunity of making money".
It is the view of the SAHRC that in the absence of a detailed framework a danger exists that these individuals operating initiation schools are accountable to nobody. We call on Traditional Leaders, Healers and relevant Government Departments to organise an urgent indaba to develop a legal frame-work with which the organisers of initiation schools have to comply with. Initiations play an important part in the lives of many South Africans. We believe that these practices should be run in accordance with the Constitution, and are asking for nothing less.
If requested, the Commission will be willing to play a facilitative role in ensuring that the proposed legal framework is developed.
Issued by Shirley Mabusela
Chairperson of the South African human Rights Commission,
For Further information , call 011 484-8300
Top
of Page
