Initiation school principals called on to submit application for 2025 winter season

Share the Article:

The Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) has called on prospective customary initiation school principals to apply for permits to operate in the upcoming 2025 winter initiation season.

The committee said the applications will be open from Monday, December 2 to January 31 for both male and female initiation schools in all regions of the Gauteng province.

According to Kiba Kekana, Gauteng PICC spokesperson, initiation schools will be hosted between June 21 to July 18 and no applications will be considered after the closing date.

“As per section 27.(1), initiation must be held during the relevant provincial school holidays and may not interfere or overlap with official school terms.

“In the light of the above, the opening and closing of the winter and summer initiation season in Gauteng will follow school calendar.

“Opening and closing dates for initiation schools attended exclusively by initiates who have already completed secondary education will be communicated by a circular by May 2025,” he explained.

Kekana emphasised that strict action will be taken against any initiation school principal who operates an initiation school anytime prior to the stipulated, approved date.

Outlining punitive measures that will apply in case of transgressions of the customary initiation act, he said; “Any school person who holds a non-registered initiation school or is involved in any initiation practices at such non-registered initiation school.

“Accepting an initiate who is under the age of 16 as well without receiving required medical certificate or consent form is guilty of an offence and liable for on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 15 years or to both a fine and such imprisonment.”

Initiation school operating prior holidays will be suspended

Kekana further highlighted that a person who forces any person to attend an initiation school or who forges any consent form or obtain such consent by means of duress will be guilty of an offence and liable for on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or to both a fine and such imprisonment.

He continued; “The initiation school that commences before or beyond school holidays will be suspended to hold initiation and will be found guilty of an offence.

“They will be liable upon conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years or both a fine and such imprisonment as per provision of section 33(4) of the customary initiation act.

ALSO READ | Procurement of 209 new vehicles to Gauteng police welcomed

“We call on the relevant departments, law enforcement agencies and traditional leaders to increase both preventative and consequence management efforts to end the unnecessary and preventative carnage of young men permanently.

“Every effort must therefore be made to ensure safety of the initiates and to prevent death from becoming normalise.”