GEORGE NEWS - The George Initiation Forum (Gif) is said to have been doing well since the start of the summer initiation season with no fatalities being reported, while the Eastern Cape has experienced seven deaths of initiates so far.
More than thirty initiate huts were built across George and the number may increase as we approach the new year.
Chairman of Gif, Mzwandile Gingcana, said the number of new initiates increases every weekend.
"We were very busy this season. We are vigilant and do everything in our power to ensure the safety of the boys. So far everything is going according to plan and the problems we have are minor. But most importantly, we haven't experienced any deaths," said Gingcana.
He said that in Cape Town two boys have lost their lives and warned that deaths might also reach our area if families keep on ignoring the instructions of the forum.
"Without going into detail, I want to point out that one of the boys who was reported dead in Cape Town is reported to have had epilepsy.
To avoid embarrassing situations, we urge parents to first take their children to clinics or doctors for a checkup and examination before they are sent to the mountain."
Gingcana has reiterated that people must use a trained and registered Ingcibi (traditional surgeon) so that they have recourse if something goes wrong.
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