Conviction for initiation school deaths a biggest challenge

Conviction for initiation school deaths a biggest challenge - NPA

5 December 2018 8:02 AM

Every year, there are tragic reports of young boys who go off to initiation schools and never come home.

This year, it's reported that seven initiates died in the Eastern Cape following complications with the circumcision.

According to Luxolo Tyali, Regional Spokesperson (Eastern Cape) at the National Prosecuting Authority, the police have been raiding some of these illegal initiation school and making arrests.

He says the longest sentence handed down was 18 years in jail following the deaths of two initiates.

Read: Community gave up life savings including pensions to join EC cult: Commission

We do have such cases and we do prosecute them but there are challenges.
— Luxolo Tyali, Regional Spokesperson NPA Eastern Cape

We do not get full cooperation from the complainants, your initiates. This is because of the nature of the secrecy that has to be kept.
— Luxolo Tyali, Regional Spokesperson NPA Eastern Cape

Tyali adds that the complainants would report the case from the hospital or when the family is still in mourning and as soon as they are released from the hospital, they don't cooperate.

They don't come to court or tell the truth as to who performed the circumcision on them, says Tyali.

This forces them to throw out the case because there are no witnesses.

To hear the rest of the conversation, listen below:

Written by: Lengwadishang Ramphele