The police in Limpopo together with the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) have closed down a bogus initiation school in Sekhukhune.

CONTRAVENING THE CUSTOMARY INITIATION ACT 

Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said it is alleged that there was an initiation school that was in practice at Kutupu village in contravention of the Customary Initiation Act. "The school was discovered on Friday and through proper inspections, it was found that the school has not registered with the department as per the prescribed Customary Initiation Act," Ledwaba said. Ledwaba said none of the initiates had injuries and a decision was made that the boys be moved to a registered initiation school. "The suspects responsible for the illegal practices of initiation school have been served with a notice to appear before Nebo Magistrate’s Court in the week facing charges of Contravention of Initiation Act," Ledwaba added.

A TREND

On Thursday, the police in North West rescued 40 boys from an illegal initiation school after some of their parents reported them missing. Investigations led the police to an illegal initiation school between Ramatlabama and Tsetse villages outside Mahikeng. The police said preliminary investigations suggest that the three suspects mobilised unsuspecting young boys from villages around Mahikeng and Lehurutshe to join the initiation school. Colonel Amanda Funani said after recruiting the young boys, they would call the parents and demand money for the safety of their children. "Consequently, about 40 initiates between the ages of 15 and 20 were rescued. The illegal schools were closed while the boys were taken to a local hospital where they were treated," said Funani.