Admin
27 Feb, 2025
UDM rejects commission of inquiry into initiation deaths as a wasteful exercise
Statement by Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, UDM Deputy President and Leader in Parliament The United Democratic Movement (UDM) strongly rejects the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs’ (CoGTA) decision to establish yet another commission of inquiry into the tragic deaths of initiates in the Eastern Cape. This is nothing more than a wasteful exercise that will do nothing to address the ongoing crisis. We have seen this pattern before; the government launches a commission, spends millions of rands, compiles a report, and then shelves it. Meanwhile, families continue to bury their children, and the root causes of the problem remain unaddressed. If the government were truly serious about resolving this issue, it would prioritise the solutions that traditional leaders have long proposed. The House of Traditional Leaders has consistently called for stricter enforcement against illegal initiation schools, proper training and regulation of traditional surgeons, and better coordination between cultural structures, communities, and law enforcement agencies. These are practical, implementable measures, yet CoGTA chooses to waste time and money on another commission that will bring no new solutions. Even more concerning is the complete lack of consultation on this matter. Some leaders of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) were not even informed of this decision and only learned about it through the media. This raises serious questions about the government’s true intentions. If this commission is genuinely meant to protect initiates, then why are those responsible for overseeing the tradition being sidelined? This is unacceptable and further proof that the commission is nothing more than a political smokescreen, an illusion of action with no real impact. For years, traditional leaders, as custodians of this sacred practice, have pleaded for resources to properly implement their strategies, yet they have struggled to secure government support. They have called for funding and resources to ensure that initiation schools are safe, properly regulated, and culturally authentic. Yet, instead of investing in these well-funded solutions, the government suddenly finds money for an inquiry, a process that could cost millions while delivering little to no tangible change. This is yet another example of misplaced priorities: money wasted on endless discussions instead of real, life-saving action. Should CoGTA insist on proceeding with this commission, it must be led by Xhosa men who have undergone the initiation process themselves. Anything less would be a complete insult to this deeply significant rite of passage. Initiation is not a bureaucratic procedure, it is a sacred tradition that requires respect, cultural understanding, and firsthand experience. No one who has not walked this path can claim to regulate or intervene in a process they do not fully grasp. The UDM demands that CoGTA abandon this unnecessary commission and instead redirect its resources towards real, practical interventions, such as regulating traditional surgeons and caregivers, enforcing strict oversight of initiation schools, and strengthening collaboration between cultural structures, communities, and law enforcement. Furthermore, there must be aggressive law enforcement operations targeting illegal initiation schools and unqualified surgeons, particularly in hotspot areas such as the OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo regions of the Eastern Cape. The time for talking is over, now is the time for action. Mabaye bephila, babuye bephila abantwana!
Admin
25 Jan, 2018
President Zuma signs state capture commission TOR; but what will it uncover?
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) notes, and of course welcomes, that President Zuma at last, on the 23rd of January, signed the terms of reference (TOR) for the judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the public sector, including organs of state. We hope that the six months, it will take Deputy Chief Justice Zondo and his Commission to conduct the inquiry will kick off as soon as possible and no time is wasted, or the process further delayed. Time is of the essence and South Africa must lance this boil and get to the bottom of the question of state capture. Although the TOR seems quite inclusive, in terms of whom and which entities should be investigated, the UDM wonders who else will go down on the sinking Zupta ship? Who also had their hands in the cookie jar? The Nation might be in for a rude awakening. Let’s hope for the best. The UDM wishes the Deputy Chief Justice Zondo and his Commission the best of luck in timeously completing this onerous task; the country’s future rides on your shoulders and if we are to clean-up our government, you will have to leave no stone unturned. Issued by: Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP and UDM President
