Modjadji suspends initiation schools for coronation preparations
The Modjadji Traditional Council has suspended all male initiation schools to focus on Queen Masalanabo’s upcoming coronation.
LIMPOPO – As thousands of boys and girls across Limpopo begin their traditional initiation journeys this winter, the Modjadji area will not be participating.
The Modjadji Traditional Council has declined all 10 applications to operate male initiation schools in the region.
This follows a directive from the Modjadji Royal House, led by Her Majesty Queen Masalanabo Modjadji VII, instructing the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) to suspend all initiation schools under its jurisdiction.
Gabriel Rasebotsa, secretary general of the Balobedu Royal Council, told the Herald that the decision was made to focus entirely on the upcoming coronation of Queen Masalanabo, which is scheduled for September.
“According to our tradition, it is not permissible to hold initiation schools during the same period as a coronation ceremony,” he explained.
Queen Masalanabo was officially recognised by President Cyril Ramaphosa as the queen of the Modjadji kingdom on December 13 last year.
Meanwhile, across Limpopo, the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) received a total of 569 applications for both winter and summer initiation schools in 2024. Of these, 530 were approved by the PICC, 322 for male initiates and 208 for female initiates.
In comparison, last year the province had 631 legal initiation schools, while 18 illegal schools were identified.
A total of 61 510 initiates were registered in 2023, 60 612 attended legal schools (45 373 males and 15 239 females), while 898 initiates (737 males and 161 females) were enrolled at illegal schools.
CoGHSTA MEC Basikopo Makamu expressed both pride and concern.
“We take pride in being a national example of how to run safe, incident-free initiation schools,” he said. “However, we are deeply saddened by the deaths of three initiates during the 2024 season, one each in Mopani, Sekhukhune, and Vhembe. Even though the number is low, we believe every death is one too many and preventable.”
The official winter initiation season begins on Monday, June 23, and will continue until Monday, July 21.
