Kholofelo Mabitsela
On Monday, six-year-old Tebogo Sedutla said goodbye to his mother and left with his older cousin to attend a Limpopo initiation school. On Tuesday, news reached home that Tebogo had died.
His mother, Eunice Sedutla, says she didn’t know there was an age restriction when she sent her son to the school, which is located in the village of Setlaleng, under the Greater Letaba in Bolobedu.
Under the 2016 Limpopo Initiation Schools Act, no child under the age of 12 years can be admitted to an initiation school.
Tebogo was said to have suffered an epileptic seizure and was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.
However, his mother rejects this account, as he had never been diagnosed with epilepsy and was not being treated with medication for it.
“I was surprised to hear that he has epilepsy, my son wasn’t taking any medication, he had no chronic diseases. I even gave them his clinic card, after hearing these allegations.”
Eunice, who lives in the nearby Makhutupetje village, said she agreed for her child to attend the school because his older brother had gone a few years earlier; and he was also under the age of 12.
“My boy left with his eight-year-old cousin on Monday and I didn’t know it would be the last time I would see him alive. His life was cut short by people who ignored the law. Why did they accept him knowing it was illegal to do so?” she asked.
“I fully regret taking my son and sister’s son there,” she added.
Limpopo MEC Basikopo Makamu said that authorities have swiftly moved to close down the initiation school and the traditional caregivers and surgeons who were operating there have been suspended with immediate effect.
“This has unfortunately tarnished our targets of no deaths during this initiation season,” Makamu said.
The MEC also warned that this type of action, whether with the blessing of a parent or not, will not be tolerated.
