Limpopo authorities have shut down seven illegal initiation schools in the Sekhukhune District after they continued operating beyond the province’s official closure date, with more than 240 initiates affected.
The Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) said four female initiation schools with 127 initiates and three male initiation schools with 115 initiates were found operating unlawfully in the Nebo area within the Hlogotlou policing precinct.
The schools were closed on Wednesday following a joint operation by COGHSTA officials and the South African Police Service (SAPS), acting on information received about the non-compliant institutions.
Limpopo MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Basikopo Makamu, welcomed the closure of the schools, stressing that they had ignored the province’s official deadline for customary initiation schools to cease operations.
“Continuing to run initiation schools beyond the stipulated period is a violation of the law. We commend the swift action by SAPS and our monitors,” Makamu said.
All customary initiation schools in Limpopo were required to close by July 19, a deadline agreed upon in consultation with the Department of Education to ensure learners returned to school for the start of the third academic term.
Makamu criticised the operators of the schools for disregarding the educational needs of school-going initiates.
“It is clear that the owners of these schools have no regard for the education of initiates who are still attending school. This is totally unacceptable and government has to act in the best interest of these learners,” he said.
Authorities said some initiates were immediately reunited with their parents following the operation, while others who reside far from home were taken to traditional surgeons and are expected to be reunited with their families on Thursday.
The department said investigations into non-compliant initiation schools would continue in Sekhukhune and other parts of the province as monitoring teams intensify efforts to enforce regulations governing customary initiation practices.
COGHSTA has also urged communities to remain vigilant and report illegal initiation schools to authorities, including SAPS and traditional leaders, to help protect initiates and ensure compliance with the law.
IOL News
Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za
