COGTA's Hlabisa wants engagement with EC traditional leaders over initiate deaths

CAPE TOWN - Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa is calling for engagement with Eastern Cape traditional leaders.
 
The call follows the death of 28 initiates in the province over the summer initiation season.
 
Hlabisa said that at least 253 boys had died in the past six years.

OR Tambo, Chris Hani, and Alfred Nzo municipalities have been identified as hotspot areas.
 
The minister is calling for stricter measures to be put in place to curb the deaths. 
 
"Any good culture should not result in death, any culture that results in death, it's either we correct what results in death or we stop it at all for the culture because it can not be taken from one generation to the other if it results in death."