Pretoria - Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Obed Bapela has condemned the death of a six-year-old boy, who died at an illegal initiation school in Kabhokweni, Mpumalanga.
It is alleged that the boy’s aunt took him to the illegal school without the consent or knowledge of his parents.
“One death is too much and the zero tolerance to initiation fatalities will be intensified. Government will ensure the prosecution of the operator of the illegal school…
“This is the most shocking death, despite government’s call to traditional leaders to ensure that in their respective areas, there are no illegal schools. As government, we really condemn the death of this boy,” Deputy Minister Bapela said.
He said police have acted quickly to arrest the operator of the illegal school. The caregivers are being held for questioning by the police at Kabhokweni police station.
The illegal school has been closed and 19 boys have been rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for a medical check-up and will be released to legal schools.
The chairperson of the Initiation Task Team from the National House of Traditional Leaders, Inkosi Mahlangu, informed Deputy Minister Bapela that the illegal school was discovered by the Ingoma Forum.
The Ingoma Forum is a provincial monitoring team comprising the provincial Department of Traditional Affairs, Health & Social Development, provincial House of Traditional Leaders, police and municipal officials.
The total number of young boys that have lost their lives since the start of initiation season has risen to 31.
Twenty-four initiates are from the Eastern Cape, five from Mpumalanga, one from the Western Cape and one from Limpopo. - SAnews.gov.za
