/ 24 February 2014

Illegal North West initiation schools closed down

At least 80 male and female initiates
At least 80 male and female initiates

Two illegal initiation schools, in Agisanang and Delareyville, were closed on Saturday, spokesperson Dineo Lolokwane said.

"We received complaints from parents whose children went for initiation despite the fact that they were supposed to be in school classrooms and learning," she said in a statement.

"Cultural schools are allowed to only operate during the official school holidays in accordance with the department of education's school calendar."

At least 80 male and female initiates, aged between 14 and 50, were removed from the two premises and taken to hospital for medical examination.

"Some of the initiates went there without their parents' consent. They lived in appalling conditions without proper sanitation and water supply." 

Authorities were searching for the owners of the two schools.

Lolokwane said the provincial government would speed up adoption of the Initiation Schools Matters Bill to fully regulate initiation schools. – Sapa