All provinces have voluntarily suspended the initiation season except for the one province that registers so many deaths of initiates every year.

Dep Minister Obed Bapela says the Eastern Cape asked to do consultations and may make an announcement during the week or next week

Bapela says the minister will be regulating the banning of initiations this season.

He says they are happy that eight provinces voluntarily suspended the practice.

Bapela says traditional leaders were pleading that ceremonies like cleansing ceremonies of widows and widowers should go ahead and these people shouldn't be punished. But government didn't agree.

He says people strictly adhere to regulations with regards to funerals especially in the rural areas.

The challenge with funerals is in the townships in the main and he says municipalities must go in and enforce the law.