New law to root out illegal initiation schools

THE government is pushing for a law that will make it a criminal offence to run unregistered initiation schools.

Yesterday, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Obed Bapela said there was currently no law incriminating people who run dodgy initiation schools.

Speaking in Polokwane, Limpopo, Bapela said the government wants to make it possible for such people to be arrested and prosecuted.

The declared initiation season for 2015 is set to start tomorrow until July 20 with an intake of 28 000 initiates in Limpopo alone.

According to the Draft Policy on the Customary Practice of Initiation in SA, there is an ineffective or insufficient regulation on initiation in the country.

The document also raises concerns, including that a majority of deaths were caused by botched circumcisions and that unsterilised instruments were being used.

Bapela said currently those found running unregistered schools could only be arrested in cases where something terrible such as death or injury occurs.

“The department takes this traditional ritual as a significant part of our cultural heritage in that people who want to take chances of running schools should be prepared to face the full might of the law. One death is too many,” Bapela said.

He said Limpopo was doing exceptionally well although the Sekhukhune district remained a concern.

Last year, the Limpopo government shut down more than 20 illegal initiation schools. One initiate died.

Bapela said this year the province received 281 applications, 77 of which were unsuccessful.

Bapela said Eastern Cape remained the most affected province, with 1 300 schools closed down last year alone.

The government also closed down 150 illegal schools which mushroomed outside Gauteng townships the same year.

Bapela urged authorities to use suggested policy guidelines while processes to pass the new legislation are under way.

These include that no person is allowed to run an initiation school without a permit, that rituals can only be conducted by someone with a fitness certificate and that no child under 12 be admitted.