The Western Cape Government has tightened safety and compliance measures to ensure a safer and more dignified 2025 Summer Initiation Season, which began on 1 November and runs until 31 January 2026.
The Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) said the season was being supported by several initiatives aimed at protecting the well-being of initiates and promoting accountability among cultural practitioners.
Ricardo Mackenzie, MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport, said the government remained committed to working with communities to preserve the cultural tradition while prioritising safety.
“The Western Cape Government is committed to supporting initiations in our province to ensure all initiates can safely undergo this important and sacred practice,” he said. “We wish all initiates well for the upcoming season, and we will continue working closely with all stakeholders to protect the welfare and dignity of all initiates.”
As part of its preparation the department trained 680 cultural practitioners, including traditional surgeons, carers and administrators. The training covered key areas such as fire and environmental management, health and hygiene, and organisational development, with specialised sessions for traditional surgeons.
Guy Redman, Head of DCAS, said cooperation across all sectors was vital to upholding the sacred practice safely.
“Ensuring a safe and meaningful rite of passage requires strong collaboration from all role players involved, from initiates, their families and cultural practitioners to health care practitioners, initiation forums, traditional leaders, municipalities and the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee,” he said. “Each of them plays a crucial role, and by working together, we can uphold this tradition with the utmost care and respect for all.”
The department has also revised the Initiation Minimum Standards in collaboration with Initiation Forums. These updated standards now require forums to be formally registered as community organisations in line with legislation. The goal, DCAS said, is to ensure safety, accountability and compliance with the Customary Initiation Act (Act 2 of 2021).
Nkosi Ntsika Minenkulu Joyi, chairperson of the Western Cape Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (WCPICC), said the combined efforts of all stakeholders are producing positive results.
“Working hard as a collective with all stakeholders is bearing fruit in ensuring compliance with the Customary Initiation Act across the province,” he said. “We wish all initiates well as they undertake this important journey, and we will continue providing support to ensure that initiations are practised safely in the Western Cape.”
To further support initiation schools, DCAS has been distributing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), firefighting tools and Jojo water tanks across the province. These resources are intended to help schools meet safety requirements, particularly in rural areas.
This season also marks the rollout of a new digital initiation management system, approved by the WCPICC. The system is designed to streamline initiation applications, improve monitoring and enhance the overall protection of initiates.
Over the years initiation camps are set up on an open field next to the Bo Dal Road in Paarl. The Drakenstein Municipality, who owns the open field, previously acknowledged that they are aware of these camps being set up there.
