The Department of Heath is calling on registered initiation schools to work with healthcare workers to ensure that there is adherence to safety standards as the winter initiation season kicks off.
The warning comes after an Atteridgeville family frantically searches for their son, 42-year-old Bernard Maphaha who is believed to have died at an illegal initiation school and his body allegedly tossed into the Hennops River.
Maphaha’s uncle, Thomas Makama said the owner of the initiation school confirmed that his nephew has passed away and allegedly confessed that the body was thrown in the river.
“The owner of the initiation school informed us that Bernard has passed away. Imagine they knew the whole week that he had passed away but they never informed us. The owner confessed that he had died and the body was transported to the Hennops river where the body was thrown.
“On Sunday we went to the police station and the search and rescue team was dispatched. The other initiates also confirmed that they were there when he was transported to the river,” said Makama.
Makama said the owners of the initiation school informed them on 17 June that Bernard was at the initiation and demanded R3 500 for admission and the family was devastated by the ordeal.
“We are tired and we don’t know what to do because everything that has happened is heartbreaking. We would like to get assistance so that we can save other children in the area because right now a dark cloud is over us.”
The department urged all owners of initiation schools and community leaders across the country to work closer with healthcare workers in the best interest of initiates.
“This is to ensure that this important cultural practice which marks the transformation of young male to adulthood takes place in compliance with health and safety measures especially personal hygiene and provision of clean water from reliable sources to prevent an outbreak and transmission of water borne diseases like cholera,” said the Department of Health spokesperson, Foster Mohale.
“Every year there are hospital admissions and deaths mainly caused by dehydration. Many of the admitted initiate experience delayed wounds healing, swelling, mild wound infection and botched circumcision.
“The health officer will visit the initiation schools in order to assess the general environmental hygiene and medical conditions in the initiation schools and the general health of the initiates,” he added.
