The family of 19-year-old Onalenna Booi, who died at an initiation school near Mahikeng, is urging the government to impose tighter regulations on such practices. They claim he was forcibly taken to the site and his body was moved after death. This tragedy is one of three initiate deaths in North West province this summer season.
Onalenna Booi, a matric pupil at Tiego Tawana Secondary School, was last seen by his family after completing exams in November. On December 26, his body was found at a kraal on the property of the initiation school's principal in Dithakong, outside Mahikeng in North West province. The family suspects foul play, noting signs that he had died earlier and his remains were relocated to the site.
Uncle Thobile Booi expressed anguish over the discovery: "What’s painful is that when we got to the scene, it was evident that he did not die that day. It shows that the incident might have happened the day before. His corpse was just brought there."
The Boois, who identify as Xhosa, highlighted cultural mismatches in the Setswana-led initiation. Thobile Booi added: "These people forcefully take our kids and they don’t even inform us as parents, so that we can explain to them that as Xhosas, our proper tradition does not permit for us to take our kids to Setswana initiation schools."
The family calls for enforcement against schools that ignore other customs and fail to notify parents. This incident underscores ongoing concerns about initiation safety, with three deaths reported in the province during the current summer season.
North West Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs spokesperson Thebeetsile Keameditse demanded a prompt police investigation under the Customary Initiation Act of 2021. "We are calling on the South African police service to conduct a swift investigation into the tragic death of Onalenna, ensuring that all regulations... were properly observed," Keameditse stated. "We stress that if post-mortem results reveal foul play, those responsible must be arrested immediately and face prosecution. We further urge the National Prosecuting Authority to impose harsher sentences... to serve as a deterrent."
Onalenna Booi's burial is scheduled for Saturday in Dithakong.