Cultural body wants traditional leaders to account for the 28 dead initiates in the EC

PRETORIA - The Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights Commission is bemoaning the deaths of initiates in the Eastern Cape. It says it hangs its head in deep pain and sorrow and has described the deaths as unnecessary and senseless.

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The commission says the number of deaths it knows of stands at 28 but that this number must be much higher by now. It says there's a crisis of accountability and a disregard for the rule of law, which brings into disrepute the cultural practice of initiation in the Eastern Cape. The chairperson of the CRL Rights Commission, Professor David Mosoma spoke to the eNCA.