-Staff Writer / Mon, 22 Dec 2025
Picture: Mail&Gaurdian
The North West Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) has confirmed the deaths of two initiates in Klerksdorp, Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, one of whom died at an illegal initiation school while the other was from a legally registered school.
In response, authorities have shut down seven illegal initiation schools across the province and rescued 68 initiates during intensified monitoring operations. Some of the rescued initiates have since been reunited with their families, while others were transferred to legally registered initiation schools to complete the process.
Six suspects have been arrested and charged with contravening Section 33 of the Customary Initiation Act of 2021. A principal linked to an illegal initiation school in Mahikeng is still at large, and police are continuing their search.
MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Gaoage Oageng Molapisi, has urged all stakeholders to work together to prevent further tragedies during the initiation season.
“We call for maximum cooperation among traditional leaders, law-enforcement agencies, parents and communities to ensure that no more lives are lost. Parents must play their part by protecting their children from bogus initiation schools,” Molapisi said.
The MEC warned that illegal initiation schools continue to pose a serious risk to the lives of young initiates, particularly as the summer initiation season reaches its peak.
The PICC has reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying inspections and monitoring across the province. Initiates are expected to begin returning home from the first week of January 2026, with all initiation schools scheduled to close by 9 January 2026.
Authorities have again appealed to communities to report suspected illegal initiation schools to prevent further loss of life.
News Junction (Gold Standard)