Authorities have expressed concern over the rising initiation death toll as the number increased from 18 to 19 in the Eastern Cape yesterday. They say since the official start of the winter traditional initiation season on June 21 there have been deaths each day, and that they are counting bodies instead of celebrating the graduation of initiates who have finished the term healthy and strong.The spokesman for cooperative governance and traditional affairs, Mamnkeli Ngam, appealed to traditional initiation forums to be more vigilant and follow up on all the deaths."They must work with police to find the root cause of the deaths and all those perpetrators must be arrested and convicted," he said.The death of a 17-year-old initiate at Gxulu Village in Libode on Monday evening saw the number of deaths increase to 19."We are sad and disappointed that the deaths continue despite all the efforts and interventions to prevent them," Ngam said.He said key areas of concern for government and traditional leaders were elements of abuse and assault perpetrated on initiates."But we are encouraged by the efforts like that of the King Sabata Dalindyebo traditional initiation forum, which is investigating all the cases of assault - including the recent and the only death so far - in their area."At the end of the day, we want to know why the initiates die and someone must account. Families look to us to ensure that those breaking the law are arrested and convicted, therefore we must not fail them," Ngam said.In June last year there were 36 deaths and 10 penile amputations.Traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa has warned that traditional leaders, as custodians of the custom, must account for the death of initiates in their respective areas...