Muzi left on his own to go to the initiation school near Verena. He left home on May 9 and when the family went out searching for him he was found at the school in Verena.
It was found that the school was run by a certain woman. They were told to pay R1 700, which did not include food because the family has to provide food for him. Everything went well until the family was told about his passing away.
“We were not told that he was sick, we were only told that he was dead. He was a healthy child, he has never complained of anything. We were told that a doctor had given him an injection and tablets the previous night. When we asked for the doctor’s name, the injection and the tables that he was given, we were not told. We were told that he had pneumonia and that also left us with many questions,” said a family member.
The family stated that they were told a different story at the KwaMhlanga Police Station when they fetched the body. They said they were told that he died because he was asthmatic. The family was told to wait for six weeks for a post mortem report.
The family also explained that at Verena Police Station they were not told who was the investigating officer and about any developments in the case. The family wants to know whether there were any arrest and if not, why not.
“We need to find out whether the initiation school has the necessary documents to conduct the school, because the owner is not cooperating with us. We have a lost a child, but we are left in the dark. We just need some answers and the police must also give information about the case.”
Mthethwa was a Grade 8 pupil at Empucukweni Secondary School. His family said he was a very ‘cool’ boy and he just loved soccer. He was buried on June 18.
A message was left at the Verena branch commander for a response and response was not received.
Meanwhile it was reported on June 25 that the acting provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga SAPS, Major General Meshack Nogwanya issued a stern warning regarding incorrect practices in initiation schools.
The warning comes in support of the House of Traditional Leaders and in the light of complaints received through Ingoma Forum about some initiation schools operating illegally.
“The practices of operating initiations schools without following proper procedures and processes is unacceptable and may result in prosecution and to the extreme it may lead to loss of life”, said General Nogwanya.
Nogwanya further reminded the initiation school owners that they must not forget the barbaric instances in which 30 initiates died in Mpumalanga.
National Director of Public Prosecution has ruled that 23 of these deaths allegedly occurred negligently and the suspected perpetrators will be prosecuted. The police in Mpumalanga are currently investigating four new cases of deaths that took place at initiation schools in the province.
“These incidents cause a painful grief to families and as law enforcement agency it is within our responsibility to probe these issues. As the police we do respect the culture of individuals as enshrined in the Constitution. However the lives of individuals are more important than a culture. Cultural practices should be done within the constraints of the law,” General Nogwanya explained.
“It is disturbing that children as young as 16, due to pressure from their peers, often hand themselves in at the initiation schools without permission from parents. What aggravates the issue is that some initiation school owners do register them without consulting their parents. This practice must cease as it may lead to prosecution,” warned General Nogwanya.
“In Mpumalanga we have assembled a team of investigators that from time to time interact with the Ingoma Forum on related matters. The team is responsible to investigate the deaths that occurred at initiation schools and prepare dockets for decisions by prosecutors. We are proud with the team and the working relationship we have with the prosecution and the Ingoma Forum. This concerted effort has proved to be successful hence the 23 cases to be prosecuted,” concluded General Nogwanya.
