Modimolle - The death of 14-year-old boy following an allegedly botched circumcision procedure in Limpopo has prompted the working committee on initiation schools to investigate the exact cause of death.
The committee’s Hosi Eric Mdavula Chauke said on Tuesday that investigations were under way into the death, which happened on Sunday in Modimolle.
Chauke said some of the initiates “enrol” themselves in an initiation school without checking if it is operating lawfully or not.
“We are investigating and will make our findings public in due course,” said Chauke.
He said the committee was clamping down on illegal operations, with five schools facing closure.
At least 325 initiation schools were authorised to operate in the province, however, Chauke said four were found to be operating illegally.
Initially, the province’s Department of Cooperative Governance, Housing, and Traditional Affairs received 376 applications for approval to conduct the traditional initiation practice that includes circumcision.
Some of these applicants, 51 in total, took the department to the High Court on Monday, demanding that unauthorised schools be allowed to continue.
The court ruled in favour of the department.
Chauke said it was not clear if the four so-called bogus schools were part of the 51 and that the committee’s investigations into all of the related matters were ongoing.
African News Agency