Four initiates found dead on Leandra farm
The police said all the deceased had bruises on their heads and bodies.
The Leandra police are investigating the death of four Sotho initiates whose bodies were found next to burning tyres at Goedehoop Farm near Leandra on July 14.
According to the Leandra police spokesperson, Constable Nontobeko Ngubeni, a community member, who is also part of the initiation school, alerted the police.
The SAPS found four of the 11 initiates lying on the grass next to the burning tyres. They were covered with blankets.
Ngubeni said all the deceased had bruises on their heads and bodies.
According to the person who alerted the police, he woke up that morning and noticed that four initiates were moving up and down.
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He was surprised that their blankets were wet and they were shaking with cold.
He told the young men to burn a tyre outside their shelter to warm themselves and they took the advice.
Ngubeni said the man claims that after about an hour, he noticed the four boys not moving. The man then opened their blankets to check on them but they looked asleep.
Ngubeni said all role players were called to the scene and all four were declared dead. The police have opened inquest dockets into the death of the four boys.
They were identified by their families. Ngubeni could not confirm if the initiation school is legal.
