AFRICAN INITIATIONS BANNED IN SEDIBENG REGION

SEDIBENG. – Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Simon Mofokatsane says no initiation celebrations can be held in the region even if initiates attended an initiation school outside the Sedibeng region.

Mofokatsane states that the decision was taken by the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) in Sedibeng.

“On Saturday during and operation in Sharpeville, police officers took a group of initiates who came from the Free State and other provinces and washed the clay off them and ensured they wore normal clothes before handing them over to their parents. Mofokatsane says that the reason for this was that the CRL Rights Commission had banned initiation schools in the region and even the celebrations of the homecoming of initiates.

“This means that initiates must hold celebrations where they where initiated and not in the Vaal.” Mofokatsane said that in Sharpeville, community members who were celebrating with initiates threw stones at police vehicles and one suspect was arrested for breaking a window of one of the vehicles.” Mofokatsane ends.