The police in Mpumalanga are very concerned about four deaths which occurred recently at initiation schools at KwaMhlanga, Kwaggafontein, Vosman and Belfast respectively.
All four initiates, aged between 14 and 21, had complications that led to their deaths and a probe is underway.
A preliminary investigation discovered that one of the victims was 14 years old, of which according to the Mpumalanga Ingoma Act 3 of 2011, no person under the age of 16 may attend an Ingoma as an initiate (umkhethwa).
The circumstances under which he was admitted or accepted at that institution is a subject for investigation because the Act also states that a minor may not attend an Ingoma without his parents’ or legal guardians’ consent.
The consent required must be in the format set out in Schedule 2 of the Act, meaning that the consent must be accompanied by a medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner declaring that such person is fit to participate in the traditional practice concerned and submitted to the person who holds the Ingoma.
In terms of the Act, any person who holds an Ingoma, must at all reasonable times, for the duration of an Ingoma, have the consent forms completed in terms of subsection (1), pertaining to the abakhethwa (initiates) attending an Ingoma, available for inspection.
The police urge parents to instruct their children not to go on their own to initiation institutions as there must be a transaction between the parents and the owners of the initiation schools.
On the same note, police also request the owners not to accept children who come on their own but must contact the parents before accepting them in terms of the Act.
ALSO READ:
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/20088/initiation-gone-wrong/
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/18813/teenager-died-initiation-school/
