The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport invites initiation school principals and initiation forums to register for the 2023 Summer season.
According to Section 26 (2) of the Customary Initiation Act, Act 2 of 2021: “An initiation school must be registered at least three months prior to the commencement of an initiation season and such registration is valid only for a specific initiation season indicated on the registration certificate.”
The registration period opened on 1 August and all applications must be submitted by 31 August.
To register initiation schools, initiation school principals and initiation forums are required to submit a duly completed and signed initiation application form as well as all additional information requested must be provided in full. Late initiation applications will not be accepted.
The Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais, said: “It is crucial that we ensure all initiation schools in the province are registered as per the requirements of the Act.
“We are committed to ensure the safety of all our initiates by providing support to duly registered initiation schools. We want to make sure this important and sacred rite of passage can continue safely in the Western Cape.”
Gerlad Esau, Director of Community services at Drakenstein Municipality, said the municipality and the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport were in an advanced stage of negotiations with the Mbekweni Xhosa Male Traditional Initiation Forum with a view to the safe continuation of initiations in Drakenstein.
Inspections have already been held at various sites to determine the location of this year’s initiations as well as which services the municipality will provide.
“This year an agreement is also signed with the Mbekweni Xhosa Male Traditional Initiation Forum; this agreement will be managed by the Municipality’s Social Development Department.”
To register initiation schools, individuals, parents, and communities must consult with their local initiation forums.
Application forms are available on request from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.
