Police in Gauteng have rescued three abducted boys from illegal initiation school and arrested the operators in Duduza, outside Nigel, City of Ekurhuleni earlier this week.
The MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and CoGTA Lebogang Maile, has commended the police for the swift arrest on Thursday. “We commend the police on their relentless effort to clamp down on illegal initiation schools in the province. We are concerned as government that some community members such as the operators of this initiation school undermine the authority of the state by engaging in illegal activities,” fumed MEC Maile.
It is alleged that the police have received a tip-off that three teenagers were abducted and locked in a house. Police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubele said that the arrest came after the 18-year-old boy’s family reported him missing since mid-June .
“He was last seen in the company of a group of people that was singing for initiates. His family and other 2 families were told to pay up cash to ensure their safe return from the ngoma,”
“Through partnership between Social Crime Prevention, the Department of Environmental affairs and other local initiation operators, the police managed to trade and rescue three boys that were held hostage,” elaborated Makhubele.
The operators were in violation of the National Disaster Management Act, which prohibited the performing of initiation practice during state of disaster. The boys were taken for medical examination and will be reunited with their families as soon as they are declared fit enough.
The Duduza SAPS station Commander Lt Col Bheki Mhlungu, has expressed relief in the arrest of these illegal operators. He also thanked the other chiefs for their commitment in working with the police to save the boys.
