Initiate, Fhudzho Khomolo from Bugeni village outside Giyani passed away on Saturday, July 6. According to the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (CoGSTHA), on Saturday the 16-year-old boy started not feeling well while at the initiation school. The traditional surgeon took him to a medical doctor, who said Fhudzho was fine.

He returned to the initiation school but again complained of feeling sick. He was rushed back to the same doctor, who certified him dead on arrival. “The death of one child is too many. We did not expect a death as our provincial initiation coordinating committee, led by Hosi Shitlhangoma Chauke, worked hard for a zerodeath tolerance at our initiation schools. “As a department, we pass our deepest condolences to the bereaved Khomolo family,” said MEC Basikopo Makamu.

Also read: Initiates return from initiation school

The boy was admitted to the Bungeni Initiation School on June 20. Hosi Bungeni said he is working with the family to prepare for the funeral. The first death was reported after a 12-year-old initiate from Ga-Wally village near Modjadjiskloof lost his life on Sunday, June 23. According to a CoGSTHA statement, the parents had forcefully removed their son from the Modjadji initiation school on Saturday, June 22.

The boy passed away the next day while in the custody of his parents at home. Superstition has it that once a child is withdrawn from initiation school, he will die. Meanwhile, on Sunday, June 23, a 35-year-old man died following an assault during a fight between a group of initiation school supervisors and community members in Itereleng village in the Sekgosese area. Seven suspects were arrested for cases ranging from murder and assault.