The winter initiation season is set to begin on Friday the 16th to end on the 15th of July 2023.The school usually runs for 6 weeks during the winter school holidays, indicating that a few days of school are missed by learners.

MEC of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) in Limpopo, Basikopo Makamu announced in a media briefing earlier today that the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC)has approved a total number of 587 initiation schools .

The MEC further insisted that minors under the age of 12 are not allowed to attend initiation schools .

“In 2022, our province, Limpopo, recorded an almost 90% increase in initiation school applications from traditional communities as compared with 2019 due to the backlog created by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“We approved 680 schools in total. These translated to 74,917 initiates, just over 12,000 of whom were female initiates.”

“This year, we have already approved 587 initiation schools to take part in the season, with a similar number of initiates expected attend,”

“As we look to launch the 2023 initiation season, our PICC, comprising traditional leaders led by Hosi Chauke, has been hard at work in preparation for a safe season,” he added.

Last year the province only reported one death of an epileptic minor in Bolobedu.