Warrenton initiation school shut down over safety breaches, case opened against principal

THE PROVINCIAL Initiation Co-ordinating Committee (PICC) has closed a registered initiation school in Warrenton after it was found to be in contravention of the Customary Initiation Act.

The chairperson of the PICC, Kgosi Bareki, said a site visit was conducted on December 5, where 26 initiates were found to be living under conditions that did not meet the minimum standards prescribed by the Act.

“The environment was assessed as unsafe and not conducive to their well-being. A follow-up assessment on December 7 confirmed that no improvements had been made to address the shortcomings highlighted in the initial report. In line with legislative prescripts, the school was closed. 

“Some of the initiates were transferred to registered initiation schools within the Phokwane area to ensure their safety and continuity of the customary process. A case has also been opened against the principal,” Bareki said.

He explained that the Act required the PICC to immediately report any non-compliance to the principal of the school and allow two calendar days before corrective action was taken.

“Should the school fail to address the issues within that period, the PICC must proceed with deregistration and closure,” Bareki said.

The Warrenton closure comes amid intensified enforcement efforts across the Northern Cape. Just last week, the PICC shut down an illegal initiation school in Bendall, in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, where 118 initiates were rescued and a criminal case was opened.

In that incident, most of the boys were still in the induction phase and the operator was found to be in violation of multiple provisions of the Customary Initiation Act, including operating without registration and failing to meet legal and safety requirements.