Teen runs for his life after escaping initiation school
- A 19-year-old initiate fled to Gauteng after his community threatened to kill him for going to hospital.
- The matric pupil got an infection but traditional nurses refused to let him see a doctor at the initiation school.
A teenage boy had to run away to Gauteng to save his life after his community threatened to kill him for going to the hospital during his initiation.
The 19-year-old from Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape says he fled the initiation school after getting a serious infection on his manhood.
However, local men were angry that he had “disrespected” Xhosa culture.
Now the frightened teen, who should be starting matric, is begging the government to help him find a new school far from his community.
“I left very early in the morning while everyone was still sleeping, but I had to leave the Eastern Cape from the hospital because I was receiving death threats from the men in my community. They said I disrespected the Xhosa culture [by going to a hospital],” he said.
Social justice activist Hendrick Makaneta told SABC News that cultural beliefs must be balanced with human rights.
“The Department of Basic Education should prioritise the safety and education of the learner by ensuring that he’s transferred to a safe school in Gauteng where he studies under police protection,” Makaneta said.
“But at the same time, we urge the government to assist with psychological support to make sure that the learner can cope academically and emotionally.”
The case comes as 29 initiates died in the Eastern Cape during the 2024 summer initiation season.
The deaths have led traditional leaders to call for initiation schools in the province to be temporarily closed.
The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) wants time to make a plan to stop initiates from dying.
Pictured above: A traditional Xhosa initiate.
Source: Facebook