Initiation season 2025: Limpopo approves 530 schools
Acting Premier Basikopo Makamu and Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego confirmed Limpopo's readiness for the 2025 initiation school season.
The season will run from June 23 to July 21 under the theme 'They must go alive and come back alive.'
A total of 569 applications were received; 530 were approved – 322 for males and 208 for females.
Rejected applications came from Mopani (20), Capricorn (6), Sekhukhune (7), and Waterberg (1), mostly due to land and documentation issues.
Only recognised Makgoshi may host initiation schools, and all schools must comply with the Limpopo Initiation School Act.
The Act sets the minimum age at 12, sparking debate among attendees who argued for younger initiates.
Full story below.
Full story
POLOKWANE – Acting Premier Basikopo Makamu, alongside Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego and the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) executive, held a media briefing last Wednesday to announce Limpopo's readiness for the 2025 Initiation School Season.
This year's season will run from June 23 to 21 July under the guiding theme, 'A ba ye ba phela, ba boye ba phela', which translates to 'They must go alive and come back alive'.
Later in the day, the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) hosted a pre-initiation school workshop at the Jack Botes Hall. The workshop aimed to clarify the responsibilities of permit holders, senior traditional leaders, traditional surgeons, and caregivers during the 2025 season.
PICC chairperson Hosi Chauke and deputy chairperson Kgosi Rammupudu reported that 569 applications were received for both winter and summer initiation schools. Of these, 530 were approved – 322 for male initiates and 208 for female initiates. Makamu stressed that only officially recognised Makgoshi from Limpopo districts would be permitted to host initiation schools.
Rejected applications included Mopani (20), Capricorn (6), Sekhukhune (7) and Waterberg (1) and the reasons for rejection ranged from land jurisdiction issues to missing required documentation.
According to the Limpopo Initiation School Act, no child under the age of 12 is allowed to be admitted for initiation. This regulation sparked lively debate among those present. Some caregivers advocated for younger initiates, citing faster healing, while others questioned the age restriction in traditional circumcision when no such requirement exists in western medical circumcision.
In response, Rammupudu urged attendees to respect the law, despite differing opinions. 'We hear your concerns. But we must remember, we did not create this law, the government did. We promise to engage with government on potential age amendments, but for now, let us abide by the law to avoid imprisonment.'
Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego confirmed that her department would collaborate closely with the police and traditional surgeons to prevent complications. 'We will deploy doctors and nurses to safeguard the initiates. Importantly, we'll send medical personnel who have previously undergone initiation, to respect cultural protocols.'
The PICC, in partnership with the police, Education, Health, and the National Prosecuting Authority committed to ongoing monitoring of all legal initiation schools to ensure strict compliance and the safety of all initiates.
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