Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has intensified preparations for the summer initiation season following refresher training for traditional surgeons and their assistants held from 7 to 9 November 2026 across three metro venues.
The training sessions took place at the LoveLife Centre in Kariega on 7 November, Raymond Mhlaba Sport Complex in Motherwell on 8 November, and Mendi Arts Centre in New Brighton on 9 November. These efforts were coordinated by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Initiation Forum in partnership with the Department of Health, signalling a concentrated push to enhance safety and compliance during this traditional cultural period.
According to the municipality, 5,500 Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) forms required for initiation processes have already been distributed in the metro, with stocks reportedly depleted. A second batch of these mandatory forms is expected to be available at ward councillor offices by 23 November 2026. However, this distribution claim has not been independently verified beyond the municipal report.
Prospective initiates must undergo an initial medical examination at least three months before their scheduled circumcision date. Furthermore, where any medical conditions are identified, appropriate treatment must be completed followed by a second medical check 14 days before initiation to confirm fitness for participation.
The municipality emphasises the importance for parents and guardians to only send their children to properly registered initiation schools that comply with the Customary Initiation Act, 2021, and the Eastern Cape’s Customary Male Initiation Practice Act, 2016. These laws regulate initiation practices nationally and provincially, requiring registration and oversight to reduce harm during customary initiation.
The Customary Initiation Act, effective since September 2021, was adopted to improve oversight after fatalities during initiation seasons raised concerns. The Eastern Cape Premier confirmed 23 deaths during the 2021 summer initiation season. This has driven intensified regulatory efforts to ensure safer, lawful, respectful initiation practices.
The municipality stated: “The municipality calls on all role-players to work together to ensure that the upcoming summer initiation season is conducted in a safe, lawful, dignified and culturally respectful manner, with the protection of the lives, health and wellbeing of all initiates remaining the priority.”
It further urged, “Parents and guardians should ensure that their children only attend properly registered initiation schools and that all required medical, consent and legal processes are completed before the initiation process begins.”
These measures form part of a broader regional safety drive to stem the risks historically associated with initiation schools on the Cape Flats and throughout the Eastern Cape. The municipality’s initiative aligns with national legislative frameworks and health protocols designed to protect young men undergoing this deeply important cultural rite of passage.
The current number of prospective initiates in Nelson Mandela Bay pending registration or medical clearance has not been publicly disclosed beyond the information on forms distributed. The municipality’s plans and training sessions signal a proactive enforcement of safety and legal standards ahead of the customary season starting this summer.
CapeFlats.co.za will continue to monitor developments as the season approaches and report on implementation, compliance, and community impact in the metro.