The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa is calling for a police investigation into claims that some initiation school principals instructed staff to deny doctors access to initiates.
CONTRALESA President Kgoshi Mokoena stated that the allegations point to instructions given to school principals not to allow doctors entry. He said, “We are in this mess because of that message. We just hope police will investigate these allegations and if it is true, the law must take its course. We can’t lose so many innocent kids because of someone who wants to satisfy their ego.”
More than 40 initiates have died across South Africa this year. Dozens more have been hospitalised or rescued from illegal schools, prompting authorities to shut down several such sites.
The organisation stressed that no custom should block life-saving medical care and that those responsible must face the law if the claims prove true.
