Latest news with #LimpopoProvincialInitiationCoordinatingCommittee
The Citizen
19-07-2025
- The Citizen
Joy as Limpopo welcomes back initiates
The Limpopo Initiation Coordinating Committee hailed this year's initiation season as a success, despite deaths and several challenges. Jubilation is the order of the day in Limpopo as more than 500 initiation schools end their academic year in the province's five regions. Since 27 June, a total of 529 initiation schools, comprising 322 male and 208 female schools enrolled thousands of initiates in the Sekhukhune, Mopani, Waterberg, Vhembe and Capricorn districts. The schools closed on Friday evening and Saturday morning to allow initiates time to heal at home before going back to school next week. Speaking to The Citizen, chairman of the Limpopo Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee [PICC], Hosi Mudabula Chauke, hailed this year's initiation season a success, despite deaths and several challenges. 'We have had two deaths, one in Moutse in the Dennilton area and the other in the Maake area outside Tzaneen,' said Chauke. Forced initiations Chauke reflected on 21 initiates being rushed to a local hospital in the Burgenburg area. Five were treated and discharged a few hours later, while the remaining 16 were discharged and reunited with the other initiates at the same school a few days later. 'We have also experienced botched initiation schools, which were later shut down. As if that was not enough, we have also experienced incidents where some people were abducted and initiated forcefully. 'This is a disturbing trend which is disallowed. Criminal cases were opened, the suspects were arrested and are now facing various criminal charges in different courts across the province,' said Chauke. ALSO READ: Traditional healer among three arrested for coercing initiation 'I can't believe my son is now a man' Meanwhile, thousands of parents of the initiates, relatives, schoolmates and friends are waiting with bated breath for their graduations tonight. Chickens have been slaughtered, long queues at butcheries have become the order of the day, while braai places, open spaces and sports grounds are ready to accommodate revellers to welcome the graduates. One jubilant mother from N'wamitwa in the Letsitele area, Patience Ngobeni, said she can't wait to welcome her son back home. 'I am a single mother. My husband died seven years ago. When my son went to the mountain school, I had to borrow money from good Samaritans to pay for his fees. Now he is coming back tomorrow morning and I have prepared his favourite meal. 'I can't believe my son is now a man,' she said with tears of joy sliding down her cheeks. Another resident, Phetola Lebea of Ga-Molepo, said he is throwing a party to welcome his son. 'It has been three weeks without him. But I am happy when he comes back. He will be respectful, well-mannered and responsible because they taught him well at the mountain school,' said Lebea. The Kgoshi Tshwale Initiation School of the Maeteko clan in Jokoni near Giyani outnumbers many schools in Limpopo. The school often initates around 5 000 students in one season. The chief, Norman Tshwale, promised an ocean of booze, mouthwatering meals, music, and dance during the graduation celebration at his palace in the Mopani district municipal area on Friday night. NOW READ: Deputy Minister Mathabatha goes to initiation school at age of 68
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Deputy Minister Stan Mathabatha goes to initiation school at age of 68
Sources said Mathabatha is getting 'special treatment' at the initiation school. Former Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha at the Limpopo state of the province address (Sopa) at Jack Botes Hall on 29 February 2024 in Polokwane. Picture: Gallo Images/Philip Maeta Deputy Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development and former Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha is among thousands of initiates currently going through the important traditional rites of passage to manhood at an initiation school in Limpopo. The deputy minister is 68 years old. Mathabatha enrolled at initiation school Mathabatha's enrolment was confirmed by the Limpopo Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) on Friday. The committee's principal objective is to oversee the day-to-day operations of initiation schools in Limpopo. It is headed by Hosi Mudabula Chauke. 'We can confirm that Mr Mathabatha is one of our students in one of the initiation schools in Limpopo. But I am afraid we cannot dwell on the nitty-gritties of his enrolment,' said Chauke. ALSO READ: Limpopo initiate dies in hospital after having epileptic fit He, however, praised Mathabatha for going through the important rite of passage to manhood at his age. The Citizen can reveal that the deputy minister was admitted at the Mathabatha Initiation School in Tjiane Village, outside his homestead in Tooseng in the Mphahlele area of the Capricorn district municipality. '[Mathabatha's] admission should prove to those 'Doubting Thomases' that initiation schools must not only be associated with young boys and girls who have not yet reached puberty. It is for all people of 16 years and above, as recommended by the Act that governs [initiation] schools in this country,' Chauke said. Schools being monitored He also used Mathabatha's participation to stress that only initiates over the age of 16 and with a doctor's medical report will be enrolled in the koma schools. Former premier Stan Mathabatha is enrolled at an initiation school in Limpopo this season. Picture: Supplied. Chauke said government departments and police will be monitoring the initiation schools. 'This season we received a total of 569 applications for winter and summer initiation schools. Of these, we approved 529 applications – comprising 322 male and 208 female schools. Regrettably, 40 applications were declined due to non-compliance with Section 26 of the Customary Initiation Act (No. 2 of 2021).' He said reasons for rejection include pending litigation or court judgments, land jurisdiction disputes, leadership conflicts, incomplete documentation and traditional surgeons or caregivers with criminal records. ALSO READ: Limpopo's Rain Queen suspends initiation schools in 2025 Mathabatha getting 'special treatment' Sources in the village, who constantly visit the initiation school where Mathabatha is admitted, told The Citizen that Mathabatha is being given 'special treatment' at the school. 'He sleeps separately from other initiates in a special tent within the camp. He is served with a different meal, mostly goat meat and other protein and vitamin-rich [foods]. His security is also guaranteed. He has guards at the entrance and different corners surrounding the school,' said one of the sources. Another source, who also comes from Ga-Mphahlele, explained why Mathabatha is being treated differently from the other initiates. 'Remember, the former premier is no longer a young boy. He is aged. He can't, by tradition, perform the same errands, such as hunting and collecting firewood, the same way as young boys of 15 and 16 years of age. 'During his enrollment, he produced a medical certificate that described his medical records. Things like the type of food he must eat, his daily routine workout and the type of clothes he must wear may have been prescribed, hence the different treatment. But I can assure you, the man has been going through all the initiation rituals and attending all the modules like any other initiate,' said the source who asked not to be named. The ANC in Limpopo declined to comment, saying Mathabatha's admission at the school was personal and must be treated as such. 'It is like the doctor/patient confidentiality kind of thing,' acting ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) spokesperson Charl van Niekerk said on Thursday. NOW READ 'They will rue the day we crossed paths': Limpopo mayor threatens construction mafia after stalled projects
