Mpumalanga Government Takes Action: 12 Illegal Initiation Schools Shut Down to Ensure Safety of Initiates During Winter Season.
By Staff Reporter
Mpumalanga:As the winter initiation season unfolds, the Mpumalanga Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) is taking sweeping measures to ensure the safety and well-being of initiates. MEC Mr. Speedy Mashilo has announced the closure of 12 illegal initiation schools across the province due to non-compliance with established standards. This decisive action follows a series of unannounced oversight visits by regional Ingoma Task Teams, which were conducted to assess the readiness and compliance of initiation facilities under Section 30 of the Customary Initiation Act (CIA).
Chairperson of the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC), Ikosi Richard Mahlangu, confirmed that these illegal schools were identified and shut down in three districts: seven in Ehlanzeni, three in Gert Sibande, and two in Nkangala. The investigations revealed serious violations, including the absence of authorized permits, insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) for traditional surgeons, the presence of underage initiates, and reports of coercive practices where some initiates were forcibly dragged to these illegal facilities.
“Our oversight responsibility is clear, and we have laid criminal charges against those running these illegal initiation schools,” Mahlangu stated emphatically, highlighting the government’s commitment to responsible governance.
MEC Mashilo expressed his appreciation for the collaborative efforts of the PICC and the South African Police Service (SAPS) in addressing these violations and emphasized that the arrests serve as a stark warning to those operating illegal schools. “Government will stop at nothing to protect the lives of initiates. We have adopted a proactive zero-tolerance policy against anyone who endangers the welfare of our children,” he stressed.
