Forty-three young initiates have died during South Africa’s (SA) 2026 winter initiation season.

The deaths are prompting renewed concerns over the safety of the country’s traditional initiation rites.

The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities has launched an investigation into the deaths, injuries and the continued operation of illegal initiation schools, while also examining failures in enforcing the Customary Initiation Act of 2021.

The commission says part of its upcoming independent investigative mechanism, known as the Section 7 Committee, is to investigate the deaths and ensure accountability for any violations linked to the initiation season.

–ChannelAfrica–