Limpopo initiation schools’ readiness

A total of 530 [322 males and 208 females] applications were approved from the 569 received for both the winter and summer initiation schools by the CoGHSTA department in Limpopo. The initiation season is scheduled to run from 23 June to 21 July 2025.

MEC for CoGHSTA and acting Premier Basikopo Makamu addressed the media on Wednesday to give an update on the province’s readiness.

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“Our plans for the 2025 initiation season are well on track. As we ready ourselves for the upcoming initiation season, it is important to take note of the track record of the 2024 initiation season,” said Makamu.

“As the province, we had a total of 631 legal initiation schools and 18 illegal schools operating across the province. In total, we registered 60612 initiates at legal schools against 898 initiates at illegal schools.

“These brought the total enrolment to 61510, whereby a total of 45373 were males, and 15239 females, all at legal schools. In contrast, 737 males and 161 females were admitted to illegal schools.”’

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𝗠𝗼𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁

○ 20 applications were disapproved, including in the Modjadji area, because the Modjadji Traditional Council suspended all the initiation schools under their jurisdiction.

𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁

○ Six applications, five male and one female application, were rejected because of land jurisdiction.

𝗦𝗲𝗸𝗵𝘂𝗸𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁

○ Seven male applications, four by individuals [private applicants] and three by traditional councils, were turned down due to land jurisdiction.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁

○ One female application was declined because the applicant did not attach the required documents.