Limpopo lays down initiation rules
Authorities declare themselves ready
The Limpopo House of Traditional leaders has admitted that the province is struggling to regulate fees for initiation schools.
The chairman of the house, Chief Malesela Dikgale, said in the absence of regulations illegal schools thrived.
“Illegal initiation schools are about [making] money [and] nothing else; they charge a lot for initiates,” Dikgale said.
“As traditional leaders, we discussed the [suitable] fee but we failed to agree.”
Dikgale said the reason for the disagreement was that the practice was different among various tribes.
He said in Vhembe district for example, initiation schools charged less because the initiates’ food was brought in from homes.
“While others refuse to follow the same practice, in Vhembe school operators refuse to take responsibility if food poisoning happens to the initiates. Those operators who provide food for initiates on a daily basis at the school they charge an exorbitant amount because they include such expenses,” Dikgale added.
Traditional leaders have recommended a maximum of R1 200 per initiate.
The province has approved 451 initiation schools for this season after receiving 455 applications. The four failed applications were declined due to late submission.
Speaking to the media yesterday, MEC for traditional affairs Jerry Ndou said 268 of approved schools were for males while 183 were female.
“This year initiation school programme has already commenced from June 16 and will end on July 22. There will be no extensions from this end period,” Ndou said.
He added: “No traditional surgeon or any other person is allowed to perform rituals in an initiation school without a certificate of fitness issued by the premier.”
Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba said her department would be conducting unannounced visits to the schools.
“We need to make sure that parents celebrate the return of their children and not mourn them. We have medical practitioners who have been circumcised and will be attending to initiates,” she said.