36 Limpopo intitiation schools rejected

Experts have decried traditional circumcision practices. File picture: Siegfreid Modola

Experts have decried traditional circumcision practices. File picture: Siegfreid Modola

Published May 26, 2014

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Polokwane - Limpopo's traditional affairs department has approved 275 permits for initiation schools and rejected 36 applications, an official said on Monday.

Malesela Dikgale, chairman of the provincial task team on initiation schools, said the initiation period would start on June 20 and end on July 18.

Thirty-six applications were rejected because the aspirant operators did not comply with the standards required by the Initiation School Act of 1996, said Dikgale.

“There should be a letter from the traditional authority that approves the plan. Secondly there should be a letter from the department of environmental affairs about the plan,” said Dikgale.

There was a growing need among parents to have their children initiated.

“People are interested and we have seen an increase over the past years. In 2012, we have seen a record of 43 000 initiates... this is a sign of increase and the department of health will be happy about that,” said Dikgale.

This year, the department refused to associate itself with some schools operating in households in the province's Waterberg region.

He said there was a lack of traditional leaders in this area and some operators from North West province had tried to open initiation schools there.

“We call upon parents to verify the legitimacy of initiation schools with their respective traditional authorities before they send their children.”

Sapa

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