Sebokeng police are useless. They are aware of these gangs but they have done nothing to break them down
Illegal initiation schools act as feeders for Sebokeng gangs
● At the age of 13, Siyabonga Khumalo took himself off to a Xhosa initiation school. It was a rite of passage that led him directly to the life he wanted — one of power.
Siyabonga’s surgeon at the illegal school was a 24-year-old member of Sebokeng’s notorious Dala Fela gang.
“I spent six weeks at initiation. We had about 35 boys. The people I met there are like my blood brothers now,” says the 16-yearold gang leader, who now commands a crew of about 50 thugs.
The tsotsis rule the streets of Small Farm, an informal settlement in Sebokeng. Anyone who gets in their way is hacked with an okapi, or panga.
Instead of instilling the proud values of Xhosa culture, initiation schools operating in the Vaal township in Gauteng have become a breeding ground for gangsters such as Siyabonga.
“Gangs are popular and they are respected by the community. I wanted that power. In order to be part of a gang I had to go for circumcision,” the teen told the Sunday Times this week.
“I’ve stabbed and robbed a lot of people. There are certain zones I don’t go to because I know I could be killed [by a rival gang].”
Siyabonga, who allowed his name to be revealed, said he had considered quitting gang life, but feared for his life if he did.
“It’s not easy being a gang leader. I joined the gang because of peer pressure. It felt good at first but now I am in a gang for my own safety,” he said.
His mother, part-time domestic worker Nomsa Khumalo, said she cried herself to sleep at night, fearing her son would be killed.
“I pray for him every day. I want him to change and go back to school, but he refuses to listen to me,” she said. “I struggle to sleep because of what he does.”
Community members blame illegal initiation schools for crime in the area, because many initiates join gangs while going through what is meant to be a sacred rite of passage into manhood.
Martha Mohale, in Sebokeng Zone 7, said her 18-year-old son had been missing for two weeks and she suspected he was taken to one of the schools by force. The family has been told he was seen in the company of the Wrong Turns, a gang operating in the area.
Instead of turning to the police for help, Mohale has reported the matter to the South African Concerned Ex-Convicts, a nonprofit organisation formed by reformed offenders to address crime and gangsterism in Sebokeng.
“Sebokeng police are useless,” said Mohale. “They are aware of these gangs but they have done nothing to break them down. Sacec patrols the no-go zones and has helped many people. I am sure they will be able to assist me.”
The organisation holds motivational talks at schools to highlight the dangers of substance abuse and crime.
“Gangsterism is a serious problem in Sebokeng and illegal initiation schools contribute to this problem,” said founder Lehlohonolo Makgoaba.
“We are doing our best to address this problem because we want our children to grow up in a safe environment. We have closed down a number of illegal initiation schools and are engaging with gang leaders.”
But local police tell a different story.
“We don’t have gangs in our policing area,” said Sebokeng police spokesman Captain Teboho Lephoto. ● Teardrop tattoos below both eyes, gang name anywhere on body; members often wear an Arabic scarf around the neck, and sometimes wear a kufi cap or other forms of Muslim attire, although not for religious reasons.
“We had such a problem about five years ago but that has been addressed. Illegal initiation schools have been closed and our members are visible on the streets.”
Vusi Mthombeni, who works at Thetha FM, a community radio station in Orange Farm, disagreed. He said initiation gangs still exist in Sebokeng and have spread into neighbouring Orange Farm.
“There are places where the police and ambulances don’t enter because they fear these gangs,” said Mthombeni.
“The people of Sebokeng and Orange Farm live in fear. Day and night these gangs do as they please.”
The Gauteng chairman of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, Prince Manene Tabane, said 15 illegal schools were dismantled in December in Sedibeng and the City of Johannesburg.
Some 186 teenagers were rescued, some of whom had been kidnapped.
A monitoring team had been assembled to clamp down on initiation schools operating in the province, he said.
“Currently nobody must have an initiation school in the province.”
Contralesa was negotiating with all stakeholders to ensure legitimate initiation schools were ready to open in December.
“They must be registered and fenced, and surgeons must be qualified. Initiates must be 18 years or older. Parents must be involved throughout the entire process,” said Tabane.
Martha Mohale Resident