The Deputy Minister for Traditional Affairs, Mr. Obed Bapela condemns the death of a six year old boy in Mpumalanga in the area of Kabhokweni under Chief KS Khumalo due to illegal initiation.
The information received was that the aunt of the boy took him to the illegal school without the consent or knowledge of his parents.
“As we speak now the police have moved in swiftly to arrest the operator of the illegal school, the care givers are being held for questioning by the police at Kabhokweni Police Station,” said Bapela
The illegal school has been closed and 19 boys have been rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for medical checkup and would be released to legal schools.
The Chairperson of the Initiation Task Team from the National House of Traditional Leaders Inkosi Mahlangu informed the Deputy Minster that the illegal school was discovered by the Ingoma Forum. The Ingoma Forum is a Provincial Monitoring Team comprising of the (Provincial Department of Traditional Affairs, Health and Social Development, Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, Police, and Municipal Officials).
This death is most shocking death despite government’s call to traditional leaders to ensure that in their respective areas there are no illegal schools that are in operation.
The total number of young boys that have lost their lives since the start of the initiation season has risen to 31. The twenty four initiates are from the Eastern Cape, five from Mpumalanga, one from Western Cape and one from Limpopo.
Bapela re-iterated that one death is too much and the Zero tolerance to initiation fatalities would be intensified further and that government would ensure the prosecution of the operator of the illegal school to set an example.
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