Province ready for initiation schools season

This year’s initiation school programme is scheduled to commence on 17 June and to end on 18 July.
“We received a total of 376 applications to run initiation schools,” Malesela Dikgale, Chairperson of the Limpopo House of Traditional leaders said at a press conference on Monday. “Of the 376 applications received 325 initiation schools were approved and 51 disapproved.”
Of the approved schools 89 are in Capricorn, 53 in Mopani, 118 in Sekhukhune, 44 in Waterterberg and 21 in Vhembe. All schools, before being approved, are required to submit certain documents such as a letter from the traditional council of the area at which the initiation schools will take place, supporting the application, a certificate of fitness of the traditional surgeon issued by a medical doctor, an environmental report compiled by an environmental practitioner for the area at which the initiation school will take place, a copy of proclamation and/or title deed confirming authority and/or jurisdiction over the area at which the initiation school is to be conducted and an undertaking signed by the senior traditional leader regarding acceptance of accountability for the initiation school. The names of all approved schools will be published and circulated to all tribal offices.
“As the House of Traditional Leaders in the province, we have conducted a workshop for all senior traditional leaders and traditional surgeons who have been given permits to host these initiation schools. Central and of cardinal importance in having conducted this workshop was to brief and prepare the initiation schools stakeholders on precautionary measures to be followed in order to have a smooth process during the initiation period,” Dikgale said.
Eric Chauke, Chairperson of the Working Committee on Initiation Schools in the House of Traditional Leaders said: “The months of June to July are the time when young men enter the rite of passage from boyhood to manhood. This cultural practice is one of the many practices that define who we are as Africans. It is a major and sacred stage in the African culture which sees the transition from childhood to adulthood. It makes us unique and as the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders working hand in glove with the government, families of the initiates and all relevant stakeholders we hereby reaffirm our commitment to a Zero Death Initiation Season.”
“In an effort to prevent the unnecessary loss of lives, we request parents to send their children to the initiation schools that are approved and call upon parents to authenticate the legitimacy of initiation schools they intend to send their children with their respective traditional authorities,” Dikgale said.
He promised there will be zero tolerance to people who want to take chances by running initiation schools without permits.
Last year 14 124 males and 1 704 females attended initiation schools in the province.

Story: NELIE ERASMUS
>>nelie.observer@gmail.com

Photos: Left: Malesela Dikgale, Chairperson of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders. Right: Eric Chauke, Chairperson of the Working Committee on Initiation Schools in The House of Traditional Leaders.