Two boys who were kidnapped and forced into bogus initiation schools have died in Gauteng. This was announced by Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA.

CoGTA said more than 100 boys have been rescued and taken back to their families after they were rescued from bogus initiation schools in different parts of Gauteng. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, CoGTA spokesperson, Tiki Kekana, said Tshwane recorded the highest number of kidnappings with 69 boys having been kidnapped in Winterveld. "We have rescued all these kids and reunited them with their families. They will receive psycho-social support from the Department of Social Development,'' he said.

Kekana explained that the kidnappings were motivated by the opportunity to demand ransom from the families. "In the past, the practice was not regulated, and kids and parents were forced to pay certain amounts which is more like school fees. CoGTA has formed an initiation monitoring committee that works closely with the South African Police Service. When they get tips from community members, they can go there with police and close the schools and also arrest the perpetrators." He said initiation season starts on 15 June when schools are closed and ends on the 18th of July when they are about to open because it has to align with the school calendar. "This is done in line with the school calendar, and all those who are running initiations at the moment, are running these schools illegally,'' he said. He said so far, three suspects have been arrested in connection to the kidnappings and running of bogus initiation schools.