The age-old practices enabling young men to reach manhood are once again under scrutiny, following the death of initiates in the Eastern Cape and the closing-down of some schools that were operating illegally.

At the time of going to press, at least eight initiation schools had been closed in Limpopo, while more than two hundreds initiates had been admitted to different hospitals. No death has been reported so far in the province. Last year, there was one incident of death and eleven schools that were operating illegally were closed down. Eleven initiates died in 2001.

At Khensani Hospital in Giyani, nineteen initiates where admitted on Monday, after they had sustained serious cut wounds at an initiation school staged at Skhunyani Block 20. One of these initiates who were admitted, was Godfrey Mkhari (15), who sustained serious burns wounds on his hands, after he had allegedly been pushed into a fire by a fellow initiate, while they were playing.

Morongwa Maria Monyela (63) of Mentz, Mankweng, was arrested on June 26 after she was found running an illegal initiation school. The school had 88 initiates, who were taken to Mankweng Hospital.

Insp Ntobeng Phala said they found children as young as five, which is against Provincial Act No 6 of 1996, which states that only children above the age of nine should attend the initiation schools.

Monyela, who hired males as circumcision sergeants, was allegedly charging R650 per initiate. She appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on June 27, and paid R1 000 for admission of guilt.

At Mathiba's Kraal, five men were arrested, after they were found running an illegal school, with 87 initiates. The youngest initiated in that school was also five years old. The men, Frans Koma (61), who is also the owner, Frans Motlou (43), Texon Mphahle (35), Afred Kom (44) and Lixon Sexululu (39) appeared in court on July 1.

Mr Harry Mchunu, from the National Department of Health, said initiates may lose their lives because health practices are not followed. He also urged the community not to submit their children to the fly-by-night schools that are risking the lives of children because of money.