Eastern Cape initiate deaths rise to 13 Two revered traditional surgeons who led Covid awareness campaigns at schools succumb to the virus By Lulamile Feni - 06 January 2021 The official initiate death toll is at 12, but this excludes an initiate who died in Libode on October 31, before the official start of the summer season on December 17. Image: FILE The Eastern Cape initiate death toll has risen to 13. None of the initiate deaths are Covid-19 related, but two traditional surgeons have died due to the virus. The official initiate death toll is at 12, but this excludes an initiate who died in Libode on October 31, before the official start of the summer season on December 17. Grade 5 pupil Bathandwa Funda, 15, died at an illegal initiation school at Gxulu village near Libode.