LIMPOPO – The Association of Traditional Leaders (ATL) marched to the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) and the Premier’s Office in Polokwane on Tuesday to submit a memorandum of complaint regarding the approval of initiation schools in their territories without their consent.

ATL: PICC failing to follow due process

The ATL raised concerns about the conduct of the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC), which has been tasked with approving initiation schools across the province.

According to the ATL, the committee fails to follow due process when approving initiation schools, leading to schools being authorised in the wrong territories.

“For several years, ATL has raised concerns regarding decisions affecting traditional communities. Despite numerous written submissions, objections, appeals and engagements with government institutions, these concerns remain unresolved,” reads the memorandum.

Approvals in disputed areas a key concern

Chief among their list of demands was the issue of approving initiation schools in disputed areas.

“ATL strongly objects to the approval of initiation schools in areas where jurisdictional disputes exist and where affected traditional leaders were not properly consulted before permits were issued,” the memorandum stated.

Affected villages

The complaint relates to initiation schools allegedly approved by Hosi Maenetja, Hosi Ngove, and Hosi Thomo in disputed areas or on land belonging to traditional leaders not formally recognised by the government.

The affected villages are:

• Muxiyani – falls under Dzumeri Traditional Authority
• Khaxani – falls under Dzumeri Traditional Authority
• Gawula – falls under Khakhala Traditional Authority

“ATL submits that these approvals undermine customary governance structures, territorial integrity, procedural fairness, and the constitutional recognition of traditional leadership institutions,” the organisation argued.

Dispute over Gawula village

Regarding Gawula village, the ATL insists that the village falls under the jurisdiction of Hosi Khakhala and that the initiation school permit issued for that village was granted without consideration of the existing disputes between Hosi Thomo and Hosi Khakhala.

“ATL views this as a serious violation of procedural fairness and administrative justice, as affected parties were denied a meaningful opportunity to have their concerns considered before final decisions were taken,” the memo reads.

Demands

The ATL is demanding:

• An independent investigation into the approval of initiation schools in disputed territories
• An investigation into the conduct of the PICC under Hosi Ngove
• An investigation into the handling of objections and appeals
• Scrutiny of the role of officials and institutions involved in the approval process
• A review of permits issued in disputed areas pending proper consultation and verification
• A review of the Limpopo Provincial House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders

Deadline for response

The ATL has demanded that the memorandum be responded to within seven working days of receipt, with clear indications of what corrective measures the government plans to take to address their concerns.