MBOMBELA – MEC for corporate governance and traditional affairs, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni has repeated her strong message of compliance with the Ingoma Act of 2011.

This is after four illegal initiation schools were closed down in Senotlelo, Enkambeni, Masoyi and Bongani respectively.

According to the department, the schools had contravened rules stipulated in the Ingoma Act and their owners were arrested.

Two of the owners will appear at Sabie Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Mtshweni went on to say that no negligence which end up putting young lives at risk is going to be tolerated and she also appealed with community members to report schools which are not meeting the terms of the Act to the police.

“We are working hand in hand with the police and I can assure residents that they will act swiftly and accordingly,” she added.

She further commended local traditional leaders for their cooperation in reporting any form of non-compliance saying that it had reduced the number of incidents compared to the previous years.

When the initiation season started this year, parents were frantic after an initiation school owner had been accused of abducting and circumcising boys in Machadodorp.

This is in contravention of the Mpumalanga Ingoma Act which states that no person may be forced to attend initiation school against their will.

Mtshweni said that such cases would be heavily dealt with and offenders would be brought to book.

At least 30 initiates died in Mpumalanga two years ago due to substandard circumcisions.