NMBM READY FOR SUMMER CUSTOMARY INITIATION SEASON
Published: November 12, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
Following the successful training of Traditional Surgeons and Assistants (Iingcibi namaKhankatha) organised by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Initiation Forum, in collaboration with the Department of Health, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is ready for the upcoming summer initiation season.
The training sessions were held at the following venues:
- LoveLife Centre, Kariega – 7 November 2026
- Raymond Mhlaba Sport Complex, Motherwell – 8 November 2026
- Mendi Arts Centre, New Brighton – 9 November 2026
The training focused on refresher and readiness training for Traditional Surgeons and Assistants ahead of the upcoming initiation season. It also focused on updating practitioners and all relevant stakeholders on the latest health, safety and legal compliance requirements that must be adhered to before, during and after the initiation process.
The Municipality, through the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Initiation Forum and its relevant stakeholders, has called on all prospective initiates, parents and guardians to ensure that the required pre-season medical screening and other compliance processes are followed before the initiation process begins.
Parents, guardians and prospective initiates are expected to acquire and populate a form provided by Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs that all Municipalities have been supplied and are placed at Ward Councillor offices.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, the offices have already issued 5500 forms, an overwhelming situation that has resulted in the forms running out.
The second batch of the forms is expected to be available at Ward Councillor offices by the 23 November 2026.
Prospective initiates are also required to undergo a medical check-up at least three months before the envisaged circumcision date.
For this initial medical check-up, there is no need for a prescribed form. The purpose of the examination is to establish whether the prospective initiate has any underlying medical condition that may require treatment before participating in the traditional initiation process.
Where a medical condition is identified, the prospective initiate must receive the necessary treatment. A second medical check-up must then be conducted 14 days before the prospective initiate undergoes the traditional initiation process, in order to confirm that the initiate is medically fit to participate.
If the prospective initiate is found to be in good health, or has received treatment for an identified medical condition, parents and prospective initiates are required to maintain the initiate’s good health status by:
- Maintaining a balanced diet and drinking sufficient water;
- Abstaining from sexual intercourse;
- Not attending imiguyo;
- Not consuming alcohol;
- Maintaining a positive state of mind and avoiding unnecessary stress about the rite of passage into manhood; and
- Parents or guardians must closely monitor their child’s conduct and any sudden changes in behaviour or health and seek appropriate assistance where necessary.
The Municipality further reminds all parents, guardians, Traditional Surgeons, Assistants and other stakeholders that customary male initiation must be conducted in accordance with the applicable legal framework.
The principal national legislation is the Customary Initiation Act, 2021 (Act No. 2 of 2021), which regulates customary initiation practices, initiation schools and the roles and responsibilities of parents, traditional leaders, Traditional Surgeons, caregivers and government structures. The Act requires initiation schools to be properly registered and establishes national and provincial initiation oversight structures.
The latest national regulations are the Customary Initiation Regulations, 2025, promulgated under Government Notice R.6680 in Government Gazette No. 53436 on 26 September 2025. These regulations provide further requirements for the monitoring, inspection, investigation and enforcement of compliance in relation to customary initiation.
In the Eastern Cape, customary male initiation is also governed by the Eastern Cape Customary Male Initiation Practice Act, 2016 (Act No. 5 of 2016) and the regulations made under that Act. The provincial framework provides for initiation coordination structures, the roles and responsibilities of parents, traditional leaders, Traditional Surgeons and Traditional Nurses, as well as requirements relating to permission, initiation schools and the protection of initiates.
The national legislation also provides for provincial peculiarities and states that, where there is a conflict between applicable provincial initiation legislation and the national Act, the national Act prevails.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality therefore 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.
The Municipality further urges parents and guardians to 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.
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