Department warns fraudsters ahead of the initiation schools programme

Persons attempting to run initiation schools without the required permits can expect a zero tolerance attitude from the authorities. This warning was issued by Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affiars (Goghsta) MEC Jerry Ndou during the official opening of the 2018 initiation schools programme at the department’s head office on Monday.
The 2018 Koma programme commenced on Saturday and is expected to end on
22 July. For this years’s programme the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders sanctioned 451 initiation schools in all districts. Sekhu­khune District leads with 206 initiation schools followed by Capricorn with 88, Waterberg 18 Mopani 50 and Vhembe with 26. The house received 455 applications and disapproved four due to late submission.
“We therefore call upon parents to verify the legitimacy of initiation schools they intend to send their children their respective traditional authorities. We want to reemphasise that we will not be lenient to people who will be running illegal initiation schools. As the house we will not rest until all perpetrators who would have been discovered to have violated all initiation schools regulations have been brought to book. We will work with our law enforcement agencies, to prevent the unnecessary loss of young lives and also to ensure that the rights of these young people are not violated. It is our wish and commitment as Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders that during this initiation season, no lives should be lost,” Ndou said.
Health MEC, Phophi Ramathuba said her department will be working with Goghsta during the initiation schools period to ensure that effective and efficient activities are carried out responsibly. “There will be medical professionals who are medically and traditionally circumcised at the schools to check on the initiates.”
Malesela Dikgale, Chairperson of Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders said they will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a zero death initiation season. “Our province has an impressive record of running cultural initiation schools.
Traditional leadership at all levels in the province has institutionalised the practice with effective governance systems and we want to keep things that way. We also request parents to send their children to initiation schools that are approved,” Dikgale said.

Story & photo: Herbert Rachuene
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