NORTH WEST — In a decisive move to eradicate North West illegal initiation schools and protect the safety of initiates, government departments and traditional leaders have launched a comprehensive awareness campaign ahead of the 2026 summer season.
The joint initiative, spearheaded by the National Department of Traditional Affairs and the North West Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department, aims to reinforce lawful traditional practices under the Customary Initiation Act of 2021. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to achieve zero deaths and eliminate unregistered, unlawful operations during the upcoming season.
The 2026 Summer Initiation Season is scheduled to commence on November 6 for non-schooling initiates, and on December 10 for school-going initiates. All initiation pass-out activities are mandated to be concluded on or before January 8, 2027.
Enforcing the Customary Initiation Act
Under Section 26 (02) of the Customary Initiation Act, registering an initiation school is a strict legal requirement. Furthermore, the law dictates that registration must be completed at least three months prior to the start of the initiation season.
The recent stakeholder engagement in Mahikeng brought together government officials, initiation practitioners, caregivers, parents, and prospective initiates to align on these legal requirements.
Andries Stemmer, Deputy Chairperson of the North West Provincial Initiation Coordination Committee (PICC), outlined the critical provisions of the Act that dictate how customary initiation schools must operate. He emphasized the legal and health requirements, the protocols for reporting non-compliance, and the specific responsibilities of all role players.
“The law provides for standardised processes from the application for permits through the PICC, until the last phase when initiates return from the schools,” Stemmer explained. “This is done to deal with illegal and unregistered schools, and other unlawful activities that are key contributors to deaths, injuries and negligence in many instances.”
Stemmer clarified the administrative process, noting that while applications must be signed by traditional authorities as required by law, the actual registration is executed exclusively through PICC structures. “This enables us to monitor the schools and ensure that all processes are above board,” he added.
Tackling Hotspots and Community Challenges
The campaign comes as Mahikeng has been identified as a significant hotspot for illegal initiation school operations. Authorities have noted severe cases of lawlessness in the area, including the kidnapping of children, fronting, and gangsterism.
To combat these issues, the engagement session resolved to foster active citizenry and shared responsibility among all stakeholders to uphold safer customary practices.
Mamelani Tshabalala, speaking on behalf of the Mahikeng Initiation School Committee, stressed the need for heightened community involvement to address behavioral challenges within and around the schools. He highlighted a concerning trend of bullying directed at non-initiated learners by those who have undergone the process.
“We therefore make a call to parents to assist the Department of Education in instilling high-level discipline at home and to become involved in the affairs of their children,” Tshabalala urged. “We cannot build a future generation of leaders on a baseline of lawlessness and violence.”
Preserving Culture Through Intergenerational Dialogue
Addressing the broader societal impacts of these challenges, the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders (NHTKL) emphasized the role of local traditional leaders in preserving culture while adapting to modern societal needs.
Abram Sithole, Secretary of the NHTKL, placed a strong emphasis on intergenerational dialogue as a tool for cultural preservation and community healing.
“Let us transfer indigenous knowledge through intergenerational engagements to share wisdom and ideas; this is how we can find each other,” Sithole stated. He also called for open discussions regarding critical social ills, noting, “It is important to openly address critical issues such as gender-based violence and femicide and substance abuse that fuel problematic societal behaviour.”
Through these combined efforts, the province hopes to ensure that the upcoming summer season is conducted safely, legally, and with the utmost respect for both tradition and human life.
