CONTRALESA shocked by reports of extortionists targeting initiates

CAPE TOWN - The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) said that criminality had reached grotesque proportions.
 
This follows reports of extortionists targeting initiates for protection fees in Gugulethu in Cape Town and Kariega in the Eastern Cape.
 
CONTRALESA secretary-general, Zolani Mkiva: "We are actually very shocked. Indeed it's worrying because it's a very diabolical act. Initiation, which is a right of passage from boyhood to manhood, is a very sacred ritual and for some people to demand money, either from the initiates or their parents, it is something that is just beyond our imagination."
 
Mkiva said that these perpetrators must be thrown behind bars.
 
"People have been become like some wild animals who all of a sudden cannot even have an appreciation of insulating some of the sacred rituals and customs like this one of initiation. We don't take kindly to this and we think it's correct for police to come down on it and these criminals must actually be caught and jailed."