SUSPECT APPREHENDED FOR OPERATING ILLEGAL INITIATION SCHOOL IN MAFIKENG LINKED TO A SIMILAR CASE IN LEHURUTSHE
The Molopo Magistrates Court postponed the case against Piet Tlotleng and Keotshepile Ntate to 12 September 2023, for further investigations. The two were also granted R1500 bail. They are charged for Contravening the Customs Initiation Act, No. 2 of 2021. Police reports revealed that the suspects were arrested on 29 June 2023, after parents reported missing children at Mahikeng police station.
Investigations led the police to an illegal initiation school, between Ramatlabama and Tsetse villages outside Mahikeng. Preliminary investigations suggest that the two suspects mobilised unsuspecting young boys from villages around Mahikeng, to join the initiation school. Moreover, after recruiting these young boys, they would allegedly call the parents and demand money for the safety of the victims. Consequently, about 41 initiates between the ages of 15 and 20 were rescued. The illegal school was closed while the boys were taken to a local hospital for medical care.
In a separate matter involving 24-year-old Bongani Moatlhodi, was arrested at Lonely Park by Lehurutshe Police and appeared at Lehurutshe Magistrates’ Court on 10 July 2023, in connection with the kidnapping of a 16-year-old boy, who was taken to an illegal initiation school at Lonely Park, in Mafikeng, the Lehurutshe Magistrates’ Court postponed the case to 17 July 2023, for formal bail application. Police investigations linked Piet Tlotleng, to this matter and he was officially charged with kidnapping. He was charged before paying his R1500 bail at the Molopo Magistrates’ Court, effectively keeping him in custody. He will appear again at Lehurutshe Magistrates’ Court on 17 July 2023, with his co-accused of a formal bail application.
