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Mpumalanga has recorded the highest number of initiation-related deaths during South Africa’s 2026 winter initiation season, according to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).
The province has reported 18 fatalities, accounting for a significant portion of the national death toll, which currently stands at 43.
The latest provincial breakdown is as follows:
- Mpumalanga: 18 deaths
- Eastern Cape: 14 deaths
- North West: 4 deaths
- Limpopo: 3 deaths
- Gauteng: 2 deaths
- Free State: 2 deaths
In response to the ongoing challenges surrounding illegal initiation practices, government authorities have intensified enforcement efforts across the country.
To date, law enforcement has:
- Arrested 40 suspects
- Shut down 58 illegal initiation schools
- Opened 116 criminal cases linked to illegal initiation activities
Authorities continue to urge communities, traditional leaders and parents to ensure that initiates attend only legally registered initiation schools that comply with safety regulations to help prevent further loss of life.
