THOSE operating illegal initiation schools in North West have been warned that government would have them arrested and send to jail if they continue to defy regulations.

This comes after the provincial department of culture, art and traditional affairs closed an unregistered initiation school that had been reopened in Madibogo village, outside Mahikeng on Monday evening.

The school was initially closed at the beginning of the winter season but was reopened and had 15 initiates.

CATA MEC, Ontlametse Mochware said that while initiation schools are part of customs and tradition they need to be run in a way that does not compromise the health and life of boys.

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“It is procedural for those who want to hold initiation school to follow process prior to that. We have initiation task team that outreaches all the districts to inform the people about the procedure. The process is initiated at tribal authorities, but where there is no Dikgosi like townships, the applications must be made at local municipalities.

“The application will be forwarded to the office of the MEC. We will do thorough observations and if we are content enough about the compliance, the application will be authorised,” Mochware said.

Two deaths have been recorded so far while about 140 initiates have been rescued from 13 bogus initiation schools.

The province has approved 16 schools that operate mainly in the Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Kenneth Kaunda districts.

“If ever come across illegal school, we will close it. We also encourage our communities to come forward with any information regarding illegal initiation schools in their areas. They can do this by calling the national hotline number 0800111166.

“We are also working with health department to keep the initiates at various clinics and hospitals after we have demolished the illegal initiation schools. Parents are being advised that forceful taking of young children or anyone to initiation school is not allowed. Parents are urged to pledge that they allow their kids to go to initiation schools,” she said.

Chairperson of Tradition Customs and Culture, Kgosi Thari Maotwe expressed concern on the behaviour of those running the initiation school in Madibogo.

“I can say the owner of the initiation school is too young. We are looking for the owner who escaped and major legal actions will be taken. We did open a case against him, but we are not too sure if he is on bail or what happened.

“He is undermining the law and the constitution of the country. We condemn those who operate initiation schools while they are under age. We only found 8 initiates after others allegedly escaped. According to the information, the school has about 15 initiates,” he said.

A 40 year-old man died at illegal initiation school at Dihatshwane village near Rooigrond in Mahikeng more than two weeks ago.

-TDN

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