DocumentClosedmedia statement
Free State PICC Intensifies Awareness and Enforcement ahead of 2026 Winter Initiation Season
Free State Provincial House of Traditional LeadersRef: https://www.cogta.fs.gov.za/?p=4060
Official source
Source domain: cogta.fs.gov.za
Collected on 13 July 2026
Always confirm details on the official source before acting.
What this means
This is a news/media statement from the Free State Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) under the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. It reports that the PICC, established under the Customary Initiation Act, 2021, conducted awareness campaigns across all Free State municipalities during the 2025/26 initiation cycle, covering both the Summer (Sep 2025–30 Oct 2025) and Winter (09 Apr 2026–30 Apr 2026) seasons. The statement announces the approved operating dates for the 2026 Winter Initiation Schools Season, reiterates zero tolerance for illegal initiation activities, and cites reported fatalities (four deaths in winter and seventeen in summer) with commitments to reduce deaths to zero.
Facts
Places
Free State
Reference
https://www.cogta.fs.gov.za/?p=4060
Key Takeaways
- PICC established by the Premier of the Free State under Section 11(1) of the Customary Initiation Act, 2021
- Awareness campaigns conducted in all Free State municipalities during 2025/26 initiation cycle
- Summer Initiation Season dates: September 2025 to 30 October 2025
- Winter Initiation Season dates: 09 April 2026 to 30 April 2026
- Application forms for registration of initiation schools distributed to Local Initiation Committees for 2025/26 summer and winter
- 2026 Winter Initiation Schools Season approved dates: non-school-going initiates 12 June 2026–18 July 2026; school-going initiates 26 June 2026–18 July 2026
- No initiation activities outside the approved period will be tolerated
- Zero-tolerance approach to illegal initiation practices for the 2026 Winter Initiation
- Fatalities reported: 4 deaths during Winter Season and 17 during Summer Season
- Premier: MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae; MEC COGTA: Saki Mokoena
- Free State Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC)
- Premier of the Free State
- MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae
- Kgosi Nkgahle Tsotetsi
- MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Saki Mokoena
- Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Free State)
- Traditional leaders
- Traditional Councils
- Municipalities (Free State)
- South African Police Service (SAPS)
- Children’s Act
- Customary Initiation Act, 2021
- Local Initiation Committees
- Local Initiation Coordinating Committees
- Traditional surgeons
- Caregivers
- Principals of initiation schools
- Parents and guardians
Dates
Closing Date
30 October 2025