Bapela said that the national death toll during the current initiation season stands at 16, with 14 of those deaths in the Eastern Cape.
Deputy Minister Bapela says a "national crisis is looming" and called on all stakeholders to work together to preserve a cultural heritage from being hijacked by criminals.
The Deputy Minister also commended the fast intervention of Gauteng Social Development MEC, Faith Mazibuko, who together with members of the Meadowlands Zone 7 community rescued about 19 boys from an illegal school on the hills of Meadowlands on Friday the 03rd of July 2015.
The youngest was 11 and had been abducted by unscrupulous criminals that also intended to extort money from unsuspecting parents for the safe passage of the young boys.
