Illegal NC initiation school shut down, 118 initiates rescued

THE Northern Cape Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) shut down an illegal initiation school operating in Bendall, which is operating in the John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG) district, on November 25 and opened a criminal case with the SAPS. 

Spokesperson for the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Babalwa Mzambo, said the committee verified the school on Tuesday after receiving a tip-off.

"No initiation schools were authorised to operate in the JTG area according to the approved initiation schedule for the current season. Upon arrival, the PICC found 118 initiates linked to the illegal school. Of these, 111 were still in the induction phase at a kraal, while the remaining seven were transferred to a legal school in the North West. Before the school was formally disbanded, the principal operator was taken through the specific legal violations committed under the Customary Initiation Act: (Section 26) of the Act requires all initiation schools to be duly registered, with certificates valid only for the specific initiation season indicated."

She added that illegal initiation practices were committed if operators did not have a registered initiation school, accepted an initiate under the age of 16 years old, did not have the required medical certificate or failed to obtain consent from the parent or guardian.

"The operator was duly informed of the contravention of operating or holding a non-registered initiation school, and the initiation school was closed with immediate effect. The PICC reiterates its commitment to ensuring that all customary initiation practices in the Northern Cape are conducted lawfully, safely, and with full compliance with the Customary Initiation Act, to protect the dignity, well-being, and lives of initiates." Mzambo stated.