They should explain their neglect and justify why they should receive large salaries and pensions
10 April 2025 - 14:42
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The number of fatalities in initiation schools keeps rising and no one is doing anything about it. Picture: LULAMILE FENI/DAILY DISPATCH
Every year about 100 young South African men die, and many others are maimed for life, during tribal initiations. Since 1994 that amounts to about 3,000 preventable deaths, with more to come.
All of SA's public protectors have failed to investigate the state entities responsible, for instance traditional leaders, the police, the National Prosecuting Authority and the provincial and town councils under whose jurisdictions these deaths fell.
The public protectors serving since 1994 — Selby Baqwa, Lawrence Mushwana, Thuli Madonsela, Busisiwe Mkhwebane and the current Kholeka Gcaleka — have failed to protect the public.
A parliamentary committee should summon them all to appear before the committee to explain their neglect and to justify why they should receive their large salaries and pensions.
Jan Buurman Cape Town
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
LETTER: Probe public protectors
They should explain their neglect and justify why they should receive large salaries and pensions
Every year about 100 young South African men die, and many others are maimed for life, during tribal initiations. Since 1994 that amounts to about 3,000 preventable deaths, with more to come.
All of SA's public protectors have failed to investigate the state entities responsible, for instance traditional leaders, the police, the National Prosecuting Authority and the provincial and town councils under whose jurisdictions these deaths fell.
The public protectors serving since 1994 — Selby Baqwa, Lawrence Mushwana, Thuli Madonsela, Busisiwe Mkhwebane and the current Kholeka Gcaleka — have failed to protect the public.
A parliamentary committee should summon them all to appear before the committee to explain their neglect and to justify why they should receive their large salaries and pensions.
Jan Buurman
Cape Town
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
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