On the 15 June 2012, the season for the 2012 initiation schools officially started to enrol initiates at 312 schools that were approved in the province. Although we had issued 314 permits, two were later withdrawn due to the passing on of key personnel who were to conduct the two schools under Mavambe Traditional Council.
We disapproved 23 applications because they did not meet certain requirements, as an example, applicants applying to conduct initiation schools in areas that did not belong to them and those who applied but are not recognised as Senior Traditional Leaders.
Compliance and intake
To date, all the schools have been complying to the latter with all the standards set to ensure that initiates are well looked after and enjoy their stay until they return to their respective homes. The intake of initiates as we speak to you in the province is 15 926. As per district the numbers are as follows: Capricorn has enrolled 2 683 initiates; Mopani has 1 106 initiates; Sekhukhune has registered the highest number of initiates at 6 841 from its 96 initiation schools; and Vhembe has registered 3 114 with Waterberg registering 2 182 initiates.
It should be remembered that in 2011, we had 11 307 initiates with two death cases. In the same year, we had two cases of illegal schools operating in the province and immediate steps were taken. This year too, we have again wasted no time in taking action against such people. That is why we have the South African Police Service (SAPS) on board to deal with such people with scant respect for the law.
This year, we still find ourselves having to deal with such elements with sheer disregard for the law. To make matters worse these individuals are not even Senior Traditional Leaders. Right at the beginning of the season, a case of an illegal initiation school was reported at Modjadji in the Mopani District. The school was immediately closed down and arrangements were promptly made with the Senior Traditional Leader of the area to have initiates relocated to one of his nearest schools.
Another similar incident happened in Sekhukhune District at an area called Madihlaba and initiates were taken to the nearest legal school. By late yesterday, other reports of six illegal initiation schools were received from Sekhukhune District at the Ndebele Traditional Council. The fact that these schools are called illegal means the law has been broken. We will in that light spare no effort in ensuring that such people incur the wrath of the law.
We would like to appeal to parents before enrolling their children to verify from their respective Senior Traditional Leaders about the legality or illegality of a particular school. We should take a collective responsibility to fight this illegal practice, both the civil society and government, through platforms like Traditional Council Izimbizo’s.
Abductions
There were false reports of abductions linked to initiation schools, one such report was in Mopani District which the police investigated and found not to be true. In Capricorn, two cases of abduction were reported. The first case involved a 16 year old boy who it was found that he went there on his own will and not abducted. The fortunate thing is that he was not yet admitted and was then returned to his parents. The second case is being investigated and parents were advised to report the case to the police.
Sekhukhune registered two cases of abduction. One involved a taxi driver who was allegedly taken by his colleagues and this is in the hands of the police. The case of Thulani Magoro of Elandskraal village was also reported and our team was dispatched to the area to establish the truth of the report. Our investigations revealed that the boy went to the school with his cousin and the father has since agreed to let his son complete the initiation. It was reported that the boy is 17 years old but after speaking to his parents yesterday it was discovered that he is in fact 19 years old. We condemn in the strongest terms possible these abductions as children should be enrolled following the consent of parents.
Conclusion
Finally, we report that we do not have any death cases reported so far. However, some ritual complications cases were reported wherein eight initiates were hospitalised. Two have been discharged with the rest reported to be in stable condition.
We expect all schools to wrap up their programmes before the commencement of the third school term. We want to thank all our strategic partners, SAPS, Department of Health, Task Team and Senior Traditional Leaders in Limpopo, under the Chairmanship of Kgoshi Dikgale. They have done a sterling job in ensuring that our children’s health and safety receive the highest priority.
With the remaining days of the programme, we have no doubt that this formidable team will ensure that this process reaches its logical conclusion and our Traditional Culture remains enriched!
For any complaints or commendation please do not hesitate to call our call centre number at 0800 Ntshebele 687 432.
I thank you.
For more information contact:
Chairperson of the Working Committee on Initiation Schools
Hosi Eric Chauke
Cell: 082 678 7573
Tseng Diale
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 083 652 5276
