Locals crack down on illegal initiation school in Standerton area
The school was allegedly run by a man known in the Sakhile community from the Shivovo section, who is accused of forcibly taking children to the school and demanding money from their parents.
Team Ngenelela, together with Kasselman Security Services and Sakhile police, shut down an illegal initiation school on a farm outside Rooikoppen on June 23.
The operation followed a report from a farmer who spotted suspicious activity. It was later established that an illegal initiation school was operating just outside Rooikoppen.
The school was allegedly run by a man known in the Sakhile community from the Shivovo section, who is accused of forcibly taking children to the school and demanding money from their parents.
Three boys were rescued during the operation, but they fled and ran into a nearby river. One of the boys had allegedly been assaulted at the school and had tried to escape his captor.
Team Ngenelela has encouraged the boy’s parents to open an assault case.
According to Team Ngenelela representative Pheello Mlotshwa, the organisation also received a call from parents in eMbalenhle who claimed their children were being held at the illegal initiation school in Rooikoppen, Standerton.
However, after investigating, it was established that none of the children at the school was from eMbalenhle.
“One of the boys told us they had spent five days without eating anything. That’s shocking,” said Mlotshwa.
The Sakhile police spokesperson, Sergeant Themba Mnisi, confirmed that police arrested two suspects, who have been charged with kidnapping and assault.
Mnisi said that because the incident involves minor children, the case has been referred to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for further investigation.
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