SEDIBENG – With the summer initiation season of 2024 fast approaching, the Sedibeng initiation watchdog said they are ready and will monitor the processes of registrations with a strict eye.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Solomon Spinaar Mofokeng from the Sedibeng Initiation Forum said they are assessing the readiness of the initiation schools to welcome hundreds of boys and girls who will make their journeys into adulthood this upcoming season.

Mofokeng added that the district has started with screening processes of initiation schools that will be allowed to work during this year’s intake.

“We are ready for this year’s admissions but to protect the safety of all the initiates, we have implemented important safety measures. For starters, we are screening all traditional surgeons,” he said.

Mofokeng said strict measures such as the age for initiation chiefs and admission age for initiates will be considered.

“All traditional surgeons must be 40 years of age or older, and all initiates must not be younger than 16 years. Initiation schools must be registered and be in possession of a permit issued to them by the district municipality and the committee,” he said.

Mofokeng also warned parents to avoid taking their kids directly to initiation schools and insisted parents must first visit the initiation task team with their kids, along with the traditional surgeons who will be running the initiation schools for interviews and permits.

“We are going to issue a list of registered initiation schools who will be allowed to work. Parents need to know that they must take their own children for health tests before taking their children to their schools of choice. We know there are initiation chiefs who are already taking children to clinics and we haven’t completed the screening process,” he concluded.