Gauteng’s Bogus Initiation Schools: 138 Boys Reunited with Families

• Two boys have died and more than 100 others have been rescued from bogus initiation schools around Gauteng
• The province’s CoGTA Department said the abducted children have been reunited with their families
• Spokesperson Tiki Kekana explained that the 2024 winter initiation season would begin on 15 June 2024 and run until 8 July 2024

Zingisa Chirwa is an experienced Briefly News journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, who has covered crime and current affairs on the radio for over 15 years.

Two boys lost their lives while 138 others have been rescued from illegal initiation schools in Gauteng.

The province’s Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department said most of the initiates were abducted. Department spokesperson Tiki Kekana told @Newzroom405 that about 69 of the rescued children were found in Winterfeld, Tshwane:

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"We have rescued all these kids and reunited them with their families.”

Kekana added that three people linked to the kidnappings and running the bogus schools were arrested.

The spokesperson emphasised that initiation season would begin on 15 June 2024 and run until 8 July 2024, which coincides with the school holidays. He added that any school operating outside these dates would be doing so illegally.

A statement shared by Mayor Cilliers Brink (@tshwane_mayor) said Tshwane’s Health Department would support CoGTA during this period by conducting inspections at approved schools:

South Africans on the prevalence of bogus initiation schools

Many netizens were taken aback by the prevalence of illegal initiation schools that seemingly mushroom and take advantage of unsuspecting students and their parents.

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@xolitshambu said:

“This normally happens in the south of Johannesburg, from Orange Farm to the Vaal, where it's predominantly Basotho people.”

@SiyaRumbu21 asked:

“In Gauteng?”

@Dondi0211 suggested:

“The right people must run initiation school, not thieves.”

@SimplyMegszcpt pointed out:

“There are licensed schools, yet this happens every year.”

@Imali500 wondered:

“Every time same story. Why can it not be stopped?”

2 Initiates shot and killed in Eastern Cape

Briefly News previously reported on the deaths of two initiates in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, which raised safety concerns among the traditional community.

The province's traditional leaders lamented the boys' deaths, bringing the number of those dead this season to 28.

South Africans believe it would be better to permanently cancel the initiation schools or enlist professional doctors' services to ensure the initiates' safety.

Source: Briefly News