11 boys rescued from bogus Gauteng initiation school

Tau Diarora, a non-profit organisation, and police rescued over 11 boys from a bogus initiation school in Poortjie, Sedibeng, in Gauteng, recently.

This comes after several complaints were filed by disgruntled parents following abduction claims all over Sedibeng.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Tau Diarora spokesperson Muntu ‘Stone’ Kama says they have received a number of complaints, hence their ‘duty to clamp down on illegal initiation schools’.

“Part of our mandate is to ensure that when it comes to traditional affairs, especially initiation, everything is done accordingly. The government gazette was recently amended, and we are making sure that it is followed properly. The gazette strictly states that only registered initiators should partake in initiating boys to men, and that can only be done in December,” he adds.

“We are inundated with calls from aggrieved parents on missing boys, that’s solely why we took it upon ourselves to help find these kidnapped boys who are taken to bogus initiation schools,” he says.

Kama says their tactical team had an extensive raid in locations known to be used as camps during initiation.

“In ensuring that the government gazette is followed, we raided a number of locations, such as Poortjie, where we found 11 boys. This was not surprising because, where we found them, they were kept by one man who is known for vigorously initiating boys. Following the clampdown, we called the parents and police to help send these boys home safely. We will continue expanding our raids to other areas,” he says.

“We are not saying people mustn’t follow tradition, but our plea is to make sure that people respect our age-old tradition. Our goal is to see young boys turned into men, rightfully,” he says.

An aggrieved mother, Kedibone Mbele, mother to Karabo, says her missing son is suspected to have been abducted.

“My son left last week saying he was visiting a friend and he will later go visit his grandmother in Bophelong. Later in the day, we called the grandmother, and she said Karabo hadn’t arrived. We enquired with some of his friends, and they told us that he was preaching about going to an initiation school after completing writing his exam,” she says.

Mbele explains Karabo was last seen with other young boys carrying backpacks.

“Bags in the community during this time of the month only speak to initiation school, hence, we suspect he went there. We have tried to find him, but there are no signs of my son. I am asking for assistance from whoever can help our family find my son,” she pleads.