As South Africa grapples with a deadly winter initiation season that has already claimed 35 lives, respected Vhavenda customs and culture champion Dr Mashudu Dima has called on communities to return to traditional practices and rituals, saying the abandonment of cultural values has contributed to the rising death toll.
According to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), 35 initiates have died across the country during the 2026 winter initiation season. A further 75 initiates have been hospitalised, while 180 young men have been rescued from unsafe and illegal initiation schools. Authorities have also shut down 42 illegal initiation schools and arrested 40 people linked to unlawful initiation practices.
Mpumalanga has recorded the highest number of deaths, with 17, followed by the Eastern Cape with seven. The remaining fatalities were reported in other provinces, including Limpopo, which has recorded three deaths.
Dr Dima, who has spent years researching and promoting Vhavenda customs, said sacred initiation traditions were no longer being properly observed.
“Initiation schools are very sacred and should be treated as special occasions. Before the schools are established, the traditional circumcision surgeon undergoes a period of abstaining from sexual activities. The same applies to the parents of the prospective initiates. They also have to abstain from sexual relations for the duration of the initiation schools.”
Dr Dima said the wider community also had an important responsibility.
“People must keep noise levels low while the schools are in session because this is a sacred period. Communities have abandoned many of the rituals and customs that were respected by our forefathers. We need to go back to the drawing board and return to the basics if we want to prevent these unnecessary deaths,” he said.
He also challenged traditional leaders to strengthen oversight and ensure that only authorised initiation schools operated.
“Traditional leaders are the custodians of our culture. They must ensure that every initiation school operating in their areas is properly registered and legal. The mushrooming of illegal schools is a serious source of concern and puts the lives of young boys at risk.”
Nationally, authorities say most deaths have been linked to illegal initiation schools, dehydration, septic wounds, exposure to harsh winter conditions and physical assaults.
Dr Dima said genuine customary initiation has always placed the safety, discipline and wellbeing of initiates first.