LIMPOPO – Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) in Limpopo has announced that the official commencement of the initiation school season in the province will be on 14 June and end on 13 July.
CoGHSTA MEC, Basikopo Makamu and the Limpopo House of Traditional Affairs called upon parents to verify the legitimacy of initiation schools they intend to send their children with their respective traditional authorities. Makamu indicated that they received 703 applications and only 631 were approved.
The authorities warned that there will be zero tolerance to people who want to take chances by running initiation schools without permits.
In an effort to prevent loss of lives, CoGHSTA has made a request to parents to send their children to initiation schools that are approved for this period.
Chairperson of the Limpopo Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Hosi Pheni Ngove stressed that drugs and alcohol are prohibited at initiation schools as they are some of the causes of injury and fatalities there.
Hosi Ngove was speaking during a pre-initiation schools’ workshop attended by senior traditional leaders, traditional surgeons and care-givers of the 631 approved initiation schools in Limpopo province which was held at the Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane on Tuesday, 4 June.
On behalf of the MEC for Department of Health, Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, Elias Dikatane pointed out that it is important to have qualified and registered traditional surgeons at initiation schools. Dikatane indicated that unqualified and unregistered traditional surgeons could result in injury or botched circumcision and deaths of initiates.
Kgoshi Boleu Rammupudu, Deputy Chairperson of the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC), said the admission of initiates under the age of 12 is not permitted, that goes for overcrowding at initiation schools as any injury or loss of life of initiates will result in the owner of the school being liable.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) Provincial Head for Proactive Policy, Brigadier Isaac Mhlongo, cautioned that no illegal activities will take place at initiation schools this season as SAPS, working together with stakeholders in the justice sector, will ensure that perpetrators of abductions, assault, underage admissions and principals who are unable to produce medical certificates and consent forms will be brought to book.