Gauteng man arrested for illegal initiation school and taking in children

The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities is welcoming the arrest of the owner of an allegedly illegal initiation school in Gauteng taking in underage children.

A 39-year-old man, who operated his initiation school in Soshanguve in Tshwane, was reportedly arrested yesterday and the school closed.

Children as young as four

The man, who made headlines after community members claimed he had initiated a four-year-old baby and an 11-year-old, was arrested on Tuesday and is expected to appear in court soon.

“What he did was wrong. There is no culture allowing the initiation of underage children,” said George Mahlangu, deputy chair of the commission.

Commission praises swift arrest and closure

“We commend the authorities for attending to the matter. To make things worse this man did not have a permit to operate such a school and he is also underage because to be a principal you need to be at least 40 years old or above, while he is only 39.”

Mahlangu urged initiation school owners to respect the law to preserve the good reputation of African culture.

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Department warns of legal consequences

Gauteng department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs spokesperson Mary Martins said: “The safety of our children is our priority and focus. Any underage child or minor found on the premises will be taken for health screening before being handed over to their parents or legal guardians. We believe this may be an isolated incident.”

Martins said the department’s provincial initiation coordinating committee (PICC) monitors initiation schools in the province to ensure they comply with the law.

She said those who transgress the Customary Initiation Act, 2021, would be dealt with according to legislative provisions.

Community urged to report violations

Martins said the department, supported by a team of police officers, the department of health and social development, responds to alerts from community members and other community-based forums where unregistered initiation schools, abuse of initiates and abductions have been identified.

“The department would like to urge community members to inform the department of any unregistered or abuse within initiation schools.

“Members of the community or any affected person may report cases to the department via e-mail at Initiation@gauteng.gov. za or, via phone, Mluleki Ngomane at 079 874 3680 or Lebogang Bogopane at 079 524 0736.”

PICC spokesperson Kiba Kekana said the committee and the department had strengthened the rules and no school could register teens under the age of 16.

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