By OBAKENG MAJE
The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West has on Sunday, applauded the closure of an initiation school that operated at Witfontein Farm between Ottosdal and Klerksdorp. This comes after reports that 26 initiates were rescued from this illegal initiation school.
The raid was carried out through a joint operation between the North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) and the South African Police Services (SAPS), which led to the closure of the school.
The COGTA spokesperson, Dineo Thapelo said the school operated for two weeks. Thapelo said the department officials have rescued 26 young people from an illegal initiation school, which was raided and closed.
“Some of the initiates required immediate medical attention, while others needed medical check-ups. One was admitted at Ottosdal Hospital, six were referred to Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp and four were referred to Gelukspan Hospital.
“A case has been opened at Ottosdal Police Station against the principal for contravening the Customary Initiation Act,” she said.
The Deputy Chairperson of PICC, Andries Stemmer, led the operation which conducted an early morning raid and shutdown of the unauthorised initiation school. This comes after receiving a tip-off that the school is operating without a permit.
“These people have disregard for the law and the safety of our children. There are procedures that one needs to follow to register the initiation school for approval by the department.
“We urge parents to remain vigilant as many young boys are at risk of being abducted,” he said.
The Chairperson of the North West House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Kgosi Thari Maotwe, further re-emphasised the severity of the mushrooming illegal initiation schools, labelling it a national crisis.
“It is quite disheartening to know that there are initiation schools that are still operating without authorisation from the department, despite our efforts to educate everyone about the importance of following proper procedures.
“We urge all stakeholders to unite in safeguarding this cultural practice, especially as the department is yet to open applications for the upcoming June initiation season intake,” said Maotwe.
He added that the collaborative efforts by all role players in the operation, which led to the shutdown of the school is commendable. Maotwe urged communities to support interventions by government and traditional leaders to prevent unnecessary deaths and injuries due to illegal initiation schools.
Meanwhile, the convenor of MRM, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele said: “We urge authorities to sustain operations aimed at ridding the province of unscrupulous swindlers, who have no regard for human rights and upholding responsible cultural practices.
“Initiation is supposed to be a healthy, safe, positive learning as well as a bonding experience and a portal into manhood that is not associated with criminality, human rights abuses and loss of lives.”
Kgwele said they welcomed that a case of contravening the Custom Initiation Act, No 2 of 2021 has been opened against the principal that operated the unregistered school for two weeks before its closure. He said chancers and those who commit atrocities through bogus initiation schools, undermine the tradition including culture and should be brought to book.
“We appeal to the traditional leaders as custodians of the traditional and cultural values to monitor initiation schools within their areas of jurisdiction and report ill-treatment and illegal operations to authorities.
“We wish 11 initiates hospitalized respectively at Ottosdal, Tshepong and Gelukspan Hospitals as well as those who required medical check-up and treatment after they were rescued a speedy recovery,” he said.
The Guardian 