Criminal charges laid against four initiation schools in the Cape

The Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport Department has laid criminal charges against four customary initiation schools in the metro.

These schools are located in Nyanga, Gugulethu, Philippi and Khayelitsha. Western Cape police confirmed that charges were laid at Philippi East and Lingelethu West police stations.

PHOTO: ParliamentZA

According to MEC, Anroux Marais, the four initiation schools failed to register with the provincial department.

‘’The Customary Initiation Act stipulates that all customary initiation schools must register with the relevant provincial department and sets out how these registrations must take place. The four schools concerned did not follow the process.’’

The MEC said despite serving the illegal schools with notices, they refused to close within two calendar days

‘’Unfortunately, despite receiving these notices, the four schools did not do so. The inaction by the four schools triggered the criminal charges, in terms of the Customary Initiation Act.’’

Marais said the department with other stakeholders, held two separate training and information sessions in October and early November 2023 for cultural practitioners involved with customary initiation schools. She added that these sessions were not attended by the four schools concerned.

“The role of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, together with its partners, is to ensure that our young men return from this important rite of passage alive and healthy, while all the important and relevant cultural values are upheld and honoured”.

“We applaud the officials involved in closing these schools for their diligence. The Western Cape is a province of respect for the law. We care about our boys and young men. We will continue to enforce the law very firmly in the interests of our initiates. In our quest to have no deaths of Western Cape young men this initiation season, no illegal customary initiation schools will be allowed to operate,” added According to MEC, Anroux Marais, Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC.

 

Done by: Mitchum George