More than 25 children, ranging in age from 12 to 17, were rescued from illegal initiation schools in Pretoria on Thursday, 15 May. The visibly traumatised youth, from Daveyton in Ekurhuleni, were reportedly kidnapped and taken to the schools without their parents’ consent.
The rescue operation was carried out by a joint task team involving police officers, officials from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Social Development personnel, traditional leaders, and emergency services. The illegal schools were located between Mabopane and Winterveld.
Authorities had received reports of around 60 children who were believed to have been abducted. The affected families are from various parts of Gauteng, including Etwatwa, Crystal Park, Benoni, and Putfontein. Many parents said their children were taken without permission and transported in a minibus taxi, commonly referred to as a “quantum.”
One distressed mother shared her ordeal, revealing that she had received a phone call demanding a R5,500 fine for her child’s “initiation.” The caller later requested an additional R3,500. “I told him that I’m a single parent and can’t afford that kind of money. As a family, we don’t even follow such traditional practices,” she explained.
Some of the rescued children spoke with reporters and described horrifying experiences. A 14-year-old girl recounted how she and her friend managed to escape from the initiation site. “We ran from the veld and hid in a nearby house’s toilet. The homeowner eventually found us and called the police,” she said. The girl was later reunited with her mother at Klipgat Police Station.
Another rescued girl expressed her relief at being freed from the school. “It was a traumatic experience. We were badly treated and beaten while we were held there,” she said. According to the children, various rituals were forced upon them, and they suffered physical abuse during their stay at the site.
Parents of the victims are now expected to open cases of kidnapping and assault. Authorities are continuing their investigation to locate any remaining children and bring those responsible to justice.
Traditional initiation schools in South Africa are deeply rooted in cultural practices, especially among certain communities. However, the rise of unregulated and illegal schools has led to increasing concerns, especially with reports of abuse, forced participation, and even deaths in extreme cases.
The Department of Traditional Affairs has previously urged families to verify the legality of initiation schools and ensure the safety of their children before allowing participation. This recent case underscores the urgent need for stricter regulation and enforcement to prevent further abuses.
As this is a developing story, more updates are expected as investigations progress and legal proceedings begin.