Four arrested following initiation school assaults

Three suspects are expected to appear before the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court on Monday 29 July, on charges of attempted murder, allegedly at a local initiation school.

Bela-Bela police spokesperson, Sergeant Frans Maponya, said the fourth suspect is a minor who has since been released into the custody of his parents.

The four suspects were arrested at the initiation school outside of Bela-Bela, following a visit by health authorities.

Two victims, allegedly assaulted by the foursome, were found at the initiation school.

One of the victims was by Monday 22 July still in intensive care unit at the Bela-Bela Hospital.

The other victim was also hospitalised.

Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders chairperson, Kgoshi Malesela Dikgale, on Tuesday 16 July declared that the last of the initiates had returned home safely, in time for the re-opening of
schools on Tuesday 9 July.

At least one death was reported from an initiation school in Modimolle in recent weeks.

Of the total number of initiates from across the province, 52 initiates — 26 males and 26 females — were drawn from the Waterberg region.

All in all, the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders has declared the 2019 initiation season as “successful”, even though there were a number of casualties reported in different parts of the
province.

— The BEAT