All hands are on deck - Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) will stage yet another successful 2012 initiation schools season

The MEC for the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Mr Clifford Motsepe, has engaged and brought on board all relevant stakeholders such as Department of Health, South African Police Service (SAPS), District and Local municipalities to ensure a successful and incident free 2012 Initiation School season. Furthermore, The House of Traditional Leaders formed a task team that will oversee the entire programme, led by Kgoshi Dikgale.

Limpopo province is known for hosting initiation schools as part of its cultural practices and commonly regarded as cultural educational institutions where initiates are taught about customary values and conduct. This practice is protected by Chapter 2 of the Constitution of Republic or South Africa - the Bill of Rights.

The Initiation schools will commence on 13 June 2012 and end on 15 July 2012; this is done so that it does not run concurrently with academic institutions. The requirements to get admitted to any initiation school are as follows:

• 12 years old and above
• consent if less than 21 years
• no admission after 5 days of commencement.

Approved Initiation Schools for 2012:

Benefits of circumcision:

• to reduce sexually transmitted infections and HIV
• to minimise the risk of HIV infection through blood and blood pressure
• to reduce vulnerability to HIV infection by more than 50% and the impacts of AIDS

The MEC for CoGHSTA, Mr NC Motsepe has cautioned Traditional Leaders to ensure that initiation schools are not opened solely for economic reasons, wherein initiates are charged exorbitant fees. The MEC encourages the participants to go to legitimate schools, and further warned that Law Enforcement Agencies will give zero tolerance to lawbreakers in this regard.

For more info contact:
Kgoshi M Dikgale
Cell: 076 202 7144 or 079 490 6296