The North West House of Traditional Leaders Chairperson, Kgosi Thari Maotwe, has appealed to residents to report illegal initiation schools within their communities.
This follows last week’s arrest of three men in Ventersdorp operating an unlawful initiation school, where an initiate died.
Kgosi Maotwe said people who want to operate initiation schools must apply with the relevant authorities.
“According to the customary initiation act, every parent or guardian must know where their children are going to and which school. And before the child can attend initiation school, there must be a medical examination to check if the child is fit enough to participate in an initiation school,” he said.
He said seventy-eight initiation schools were registered in the province this year and only seven for female initiates.
He said fourteen initiation schools were rejected as they didn’t meet the required standards. “We have 39 schools in Ngaka Modiri Molema, four are female schools, 35 are for men. In Bojanala, we received 50 applications, but two were from female schools, and 48 were for men, 14 of them were unsuccessful because of missing documents. In Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati we received three applications, two schools for men and one female school.
He said the most worrisome area was Dr. Kenneth Kaunda’s district, where they have not received any applications.
“We are pleading and sending a strong warning that the law is for all of us and protects us all the time. People like taking shortcuts, and that is against the law,” he said.