THE OVER 25 youngsters who looked traumatised and puzzled were rescued from illegal initiation schools on Thursday
THE OVER 25 youngsters who looked traumatised and puzzled were rescued from illegal initiation schools on Thursday
The youth from Daveyton in Ekurhuleni who are between the ages of 12 and 17 were rescued by cops, Cogta, Social Development officials, traditional leaders and emergency officials at the initiation school between Mabopane and Winterveld in Pretoria on Thursday, 15 May.
The boys and the girls were among the 60 children reported to have been kidnapped.
Parents from different areas, such as Etwatwa, Crystal Park, Benoni and Putfontein, said their kids were taken without permission.
Two weeks ago, the boys were allegedly recruited with a quantum.
One of the parents said the people who kidnapped her kids called her to demand a R5500 fine.
“The person also demanded another R3500, and I told him that I’m a single parent and don’t have the money.
“I told the person that as a family we don’t follow such traditional customs,” said the parent.
The SunTeam spoke to the kids who were rescued.
A 14-year-old girl said she and her friend escaped from the illegal initiation and ran to a nearby house.
“We hid ourselves in the toilet after running from the veld where we were kept without our consent.
“The owner of the house where we were hiding discovered us and called the police, and we were taken to Klipgat Police Station,” said the girl.
The girl who looked traumatised has been reunited with her mother.
Another girl who was rescued said she was happy that she was going back home.
“The situation we faced at the illegal initiation school was traumatic. We were badly treated and beaten at the veld,” said the girl.
The girls claimed they were assaulted, and rituals were performed to them when they were at the initiation school.
Parents are expected to open cases of kidnapping and assault.
Developing story…
