Gauteng
1Min
South Africa
Jan 13, 2026
The Gauteng government has confirmed the deaths of four initiates during the 2025 Summer Customary Initiation Season, with investigations underway as authorities reiterate calls for safety and compliance at initiation schools.
The Gauteng Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (GPICC) has confirmed that four initiates died during the 2025 Summer Customary Initiation Season.
The season began on 21 November 2025 for non-school-going initiates and on 11 December 2025 for school-going initiates, and is set to end on 14 January 2026.
According to spokesperson for the Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Theo Nkonki, the deaths occurred under different circumstances across the province. A 25-year-old male initiate died on 5 December 2025 at a registered initiation school in the Sedibeng District Municipality.
A 15-year-old male initiate passed away on 8 December 2025 at an unregistered initiation school in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. Another initiate, aged 21, died on 28 December 2025 at a registered initiation school in the Emfuleni Local Municipality, also under the Sedibeng District.
The fourth death involved a 35-year-old male initiate who died on 31 December 2025 at a registered initiation school in the Emfuleni Local Municipality.
The GPICC has conveyed its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased, adding that support is being provided to the affected families. The committee has also appealed for privacy as the families mourn their loss.
Meanwhile, investigations by the South African Police Service are continuing, including probes into possible violations of the Customary Initiation Act. The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has reiterated its commitment to enforcing safety standards at initiation schools to protect the lives of initiates.
