On Saturday, a group of girls completed their initiation school in the Sekhukhune district. The community of Jane Furse on the day was not the only place where people had a huge celebration; several parts of the Sekhukhune district have completed their initiation school. Cheers and chants of “Mara why” showed so much joy that the graduates headed home to meet relatives and friends, weeks after they went to capture themselves away from their families. Among the graduates that were visited by Magopa at Jane Furse in Zamane, where Mr. Magopa was shepherding the initiation school for girls and boys together.

Magopa said that for the year, he was able to circumcise 296 children, 150 boys and 146 girls. The initiation has happened, and they have not encountered any problems with the children, especially in terms of diseases, as they are working with highly experienced Medical Doctors. They had strong winds for two weeks, and as for the children, they were all safe. Mr. Magopa thanked the community at large for their support and promised them that he would continue to treat the children well at all times.

“The Limpopo government has approved 587 initiation schools for the 2023 winter season which started on 16 June. Of the total number, 328 of the schools are for males and 259 for females. It is expected that the initiation schools will start to fill up with young boys and girls when the academic winter holidays commence on 23 June. Speaking to the media in Polokwane on Thursday, Cogta MEC Basikopo Makamu emphasized the need for safety at the schools. He said the Northern Province Circumcision Schools Act would be strictly applied. The Act stipulates that no traditional surgeon or any other person is allowed to perform rituals without a certificate of fitness issued by a registered medical practitioner. It also stipulates that no person under the age of 12 can be admitted to an initiation school, and no person can abduct another to force them into initiation.”