Some of the Initiates who returned safely from legal Initiation schools.
SHIGALO VILLAGE – The 2026 Winter Customary Initiation season in Limpopo has officially ended with a strong call for safety and the law to be respected.
The official closing ceremony took place on Saturday, in the historic village of Shigalo.
Hosi Shigalo, the traditional leader of this rural area along the R81 route, hosted the event. The area is famous as the birthplace of the great Vatsonga sculptor Noria Muelwa Mabasa and the late politician and musician Collins Chabane.
High-profile leaders attended the ceremony to support the safe return of the youth. Among them were the Executive Mayor of Vhembe District, Councillor Miyelani Chauke, and the Mayor of Collins Chabane Local Municipality, Shadrack Maluleke. They joined traditional leaders, parents, and community members to hear the end-of-season address by Basikopo Makamu, the MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA).
A Balance of Tradition and Law
MEC Makamu explained that the initiation season started on 19 June and ended on 18 July. He praised the cultural value of the practice. He called it a sacred rite of passage that shapes young people and keeps local heritage alive. However, he spent much of his speech talking about the hard truths of safety, illegal schools, and criminal activities.
The Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee worked hard this year to make sure schools followed the law. The committee approved 771 legal schools, which included 471 for males and 300 for females. These schools showed they cared about the lives of children. Their names were printed in the Government Gazette on 20 May 2026.
At the same time, the committee rejected 186 applications because they did not follow the Customary Initiation Act of 2021. Some did not have recognized traditional leaders, while others did not have permission from landowners. MEC Makamu warned that the time for illegal, backyard schools is completely over. He said the government will not tolerate people who try to make money from culture while breaking safety rules.
The Numbers and the Fight Against Illegal Schools
A total of 41,386 initiates went to legal, registered schools this winter. This big number shows that families still deeply value this old tradition. Sadly, 960 children were taken to illegal schools, bringing the total number of initiates in the province to 42,346.
The provincial government found 53 illegal initiation schools operating across Limpopo. Officials and police took fast action to close them down:
*In Capricorn District, police found two illegal male schools in Ga-Mphahlele and arrested the school principals.
*In Mopani District, thirteen male schools in GA Modjadji, Bolobedu, were shut down after the Premier cancelled their permits for not following the rules. Other illegal schools were closed in Balloon, and Lulekani, and the children were moved to safe, legal sites.
*In Sekhukhune District, criminals tried to trick communities with a fake letter. The letter pretended to be from Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, claiming that rejected schools could open. Monitoring teams managed to close 16 illegal schools there, but 46 had been set up because of that lie.
Grief Over Lost Lives
The most difficult part of the report was the loss of human life. MEC Makamu announced with deep sadness that three young initiates died during the month-long season. He stated that this number was higher than last year and called it totally unacceptable.
The first tragedy happened in Tafelkop, Sekhukhune, where a 17-year-old male died on 24 June due to a suspected pre-existing health condition. On 8 July, a 14-year-old male died in Rathoke Village from breathing problems related to asthma. The third death was a 12-year-old child who died in Mopani District just one day after entering a school in Nondweni.
MEC Makamu sent deep condolences to the grieving families. He said that tradition cannot be used as an excuse for bad behaviour or to ignore a child’s health. He blamed the deaths on people who ignored rules, admitted underage children, or failed to get proper parental consent forms.
Moving Forward with Zero Tolerance
As the 2026 winter season closed, the provincial government asked the police and courts to give the harshest possible punishments to the people who were arrested.
MEC Makamu congratulated the more than 41,000 initiates who returned home safely. He told them to carry their new lessons with honor. He also thanked the health workers, monitoring teams, and law-abiding traditional leaders like Hosi Shigalo for their hard work. The government plans to review its strategies over the next few months to make sure that no lives are lost during the 2027 season.
MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Basikopo Makamu addressing the ceremony.
The Mayor of Collins Chabane Municipality and Member of the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee Shadrack, Malubeke.