Limpopo province is aiming for another death-free initiation school season.

This was revealed by Kgosi Malesela Dikgale, chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders in the province.

Limpopo had a death-free initiation school season last year.  A total of 275 initiation schools received permission to operate from June 20 until July 18 this coming season and Dikgale expressed the hope that no death would be recorded as all senior traditional leaders who qualified for initiation school permits had attended a workshop.

He said the purpose of the workshop was to brief and prepare the initiation schools stakeholders and participants on the precautionary measures to be followed in order to have a smooth process during the initiation period. “The workshop will go a long way in ensuring that Limpopo maintains a death-free initiation season,” said Dikgale.

He also urged parents to verify the legitimacy of initiation schools with their respective traditional authorities before they sent their children. He also warned that running initiation schools without permits would not be tolerated. “The department would like to put it on record that any school that starts before the starting date of June 20th will be regarded as illegal,” warned Dikgale.

In Limpopo, no traditional surgeon is allowed to perform rituals in an initiation school without a certificate of fitness issued for that purpose by a registered medical practitioner authorized by the Premier or authorized officer to do so in terms of the initiation act.

Initiates will not be admitted to an initiation school more than five days after the commencement of the school. Dikgale also urged community members to “work with us to ensure that we prevent the unnecessary loss of lives.”

There are 19 initiation schools that were given permits in Vhembe, while Sekhukhune has 85, Mopani 60, Caprocorn 43 and Waterberg has 59. Thirty-six applications were declined.

Dikgale said the list of legitimate schools would be published in the local media and at municipal offices and traditional authorities' offices across the province.