The Customary Initiation Act, 2021 (Act No. 2 of 2021), which came into effect on 01 September 2021, aims to protect the lives of individuals participating in customary initiation schools by regulating these schools and establishing oversight bodies at both national and provincial levels. The Act includes provisions related to consent for initiation and specific prohibitions. It aligns with the Children’s Act, prohibiting genital mutilation and female circumcision, and clarifies that consent to initiation does not imply consent to such practices. It also aligns with the Children’s Act on virginity testing.