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The South African Government has urged parents and guardians to avoid illegal initiation schools and verify the registration status of any institution before sending their children for traditional initiation, following continued deaths and injuries linked to unregulated circumcision practices.
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the South African Government.
The government called on parents to play an active role in protecting initiates by ensuring they attend only legally registered initiation schools.
“Government calls on the public to be careful of illegal initiation schools, and to protect their children by doing thorough research before sending children to any initiation school,” the statement said.
It urged parents to play their part in ensuring that their loved ones return home safely by using only legal institutions.
The government also condemned the deaths and injuries resulting from botched circumcisions carried out at illegal initiation schools, describing the incidents as unacceptable.
It emphasised that the loss of innocent lives due to the incompetence of unregistered surgeons will not be tolerated.
The government extended its condolences to families who lost relatives during initiation ceremonies and urged communities to report illegal schools to law enforcement authorities.
It advised parents to verify the legitimacy of initiation schools through their provincial Departments of Traditional Affairs or Health before enrolling children.
“To find a registered initiation school, enquire and consult relevant authorities within your province as specified by your province’s Department of Traditional Affairs or Health.”
The government also encouraged members of the public to report suspected illegal initiation schools at the nearest police station or through the Crime Stop reporting channels, saying the move could help save lives.
Initiation schools are traditional institutions where boys, and in some communities, girls, undergo rites of passage that mark the transition from childhood to adulthood.
For many ethnic groups in South Africa, particularly the Xhosa, Sotho, Ndebele and some Tswana communities, the practice has deep cultural and spiritual significance.
For boys, initiation typically includes traditional circumcision, followed by a period of seclusion during which initiates receive teachings about adulthood, responsibility, culture and community values.
However, illegal or unregistered initiation schools have become a recurring public health and safety concern.
Every year, especially during the winter and summer initiation seasons, authorities report deaths, amputations, severe dehydration, infections and other complications linked to botched circumcisions performed by unqualified traditional surgeons or caregivers.
The warning comes as South African authorities continue efforts to curb deaths and serious injuries associated with illegal initiation schools, particularly during the country’s traditional initiation seasons.
Government calls on the public to be careful of illegal initiation schools, and to protect their children by doing thorough research before sending them to any initiation school.
The public is urged to report any suspected initiation schools to the nearest police station, or by… pic.twitter.com/8kIMYQIsOl
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) July 14, 2026
