Police in Hlogotlou in Limpopo and the provincial department of cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs have closed an illegal initiation school outside Kutupu village in Sekhukhune.
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba explained: “According to the information available at this stage, it is alleged that there was an initiation school that was in practice at Kutupu village in contravention of the Initiation Act.
“It is reported that the school was discovered on Sunday, June 25 and through proper inspections it was found that the school has not registered with the department as per prescribed act.”
No injuries or fatalities were reported from the initiation school and a decision was made to move the initiates to a registered school.
The people believed to be in charge of the school were served with a notice to appear in the Nebo magistrate’s court this week for contravening the Initiation Act.
Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe, provincial police commissioner in Limpopo, applauded the teams for acting swiftly and closing down the illegal school.
Further police investigations are under way.
On Thursday, the police in Mahikeng and Lehurutshe in North West arrested three men for operating an illegal initiation school.
On Friday, twenty-four-year-old Bongani Moatlhodi took the stand at the Lehurutshe magistrate’s court after he was implicated in the kidnapping of a teenage boy.
His accomplices are due in the Molopo magistrate’s court in Mmabatho on Monday.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda Funani said at the time that the suspects were arrested after parents reported missing children at Mahikeng and Lehurutshe police stations.
“Investigations led the police to an illegal initiation school near or between Ramatlabama and Tsetse villages outside Mahikeng,” said Funani.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the three suspects mobilised unsuspecting young boys from villages around Mahikeng and Lehurutshe to join the initiation school.
“Moreover, and after recruiting these young boys, they would call the parents and demand money for the safety of their children.
“Consequently, about 40 initiates between the ages of 15 and 20 were rescued. The illegal schools were closed while the boys were taken to a local hospital where they were treated.”
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