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DEVASTATED: Makhotso Pitso of Botshabelo, Free State. PHOTO: NTWAAGAE SELEKA

 Owner demanded payment 

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• Initiation roadshow aims to prevent deaths

The school's owner, aged 59, and its principal, who is 27 years old, were arrested after Kamohelo Pitso, 17, was found dead.

His mother, Makhotso Pitso, said the family wanted to know why her son was killed.

She said her son disappeared from her Botshabelo, Free State, home last month. The boy's body was found on Monday in a veld. Police found 14 initiates aged between 16 and 25 at the initiation school.

"I waited for him to return and three hours later three young men arrived at my house and told me that Kamohelo has joined other initiates at their school," said the mother.

"A week later the school's owner came to my house demanding R1500 for Kamohelo's release and later demanded R3500 after he had graduated."

Pitso said she was shocked because Kamohelo's father had told the school's owner that he was opposed to the boy attending the initiation.

Police spokeswoman Constable Consolation Mokoale said Kamohelo's body was found near a hill outside Botshabelo.

"He had sustained serious injuries to his body," Mokoale said.

"There was blood in his mouth, his left elbow has a burn wound. We suspect that he could have died on Sunday and we were only informed on Monday by his principal."

In the suspects' possession, police found fake permits allowing the children to attend the initiation school.

l In another similar case, Daniel Thabatau, 29, his younger brother Lehlohonolo Thabatau, 26, Mohau Motumi, 24, and Sesing Chapi, 21, are expected to stand trial for the murder of Mthandazo Kuzwayo, 19, Morena Potsane, 17, Itumeleng Tshiane, 19 and Thembekile Motselebane, 18.

The deceased were assaulted on their upper bodies and their buttocks were burnt with hot iron rods, allegedly by Daniel and Lehohonolo Thabatau, Motumi and Chapi.

About 30 initiates were rescued from the illegal school. Eleven other initiates were hospitalised. - ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Sat May 25 20:21:15 SAST 2013 ::

Dec 5, 2012

TLekota

Koma ke mmutla le boya bja thlolo. Problem bo thipana ba matsatsi a gaba ikilele ba rata marago ge ba fetsa baya thabeng.
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Dec 5, 2012

oldlady12

Ponko.Fontoyo, I don't think we can blame the government for this. All cultures were once good because we never got to hear about the bad. Pre 1994, government didn't really care too much if a black life was lost, neither did we have the communication networks that we have today. Apart from that, if I'm not mistaken, initiation rituals were not something one used to pay for. Since money came into play, unqualified people have taken over in order to enrich themselves, and it has led to dangerous practises.
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Dec 5, 2012

MommaC

This form of kidnapping and demanding ransom is rife throughout the country. Those lazy sods, who are euphemistically called our 'Traditional Leaders' and whom we pay a fortune to every month, should get off their fat behinds and LEAD. How do they allow their culture to be spat on like this and do nothing?
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Dec 5, 2012

MommaC

This form of kidnapping and demanding ransom is rife throughout the country. Those lazy sods, who are euphemistically called our 'Traditiona1 Leaders' and whom we pay a fortune to every month, should get off their fat behinds and LEAD. How do they allow their cu1ture to be spat on like this and do nothing?
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Dec 5, 2012

oldlady12

MommaC0, now there I agree. Government empowers them and even pay them to lead their people, so if anyone should work tirelessly to get rid of these murderers it should be the traditional leaders.
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Dec 5, 2012

MommaC

oldlady12

It has to be them. The police refuse point blank to do anything about it as it is a 'cultural' issue. Worst part of the lot is if you try to get hold of these 'traditional leaders', you are pushed from pillar to post and they are simply not available. What are we paying them for?
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Dec 5, 2012

Nastradamas

its kidnapping and demanding a ransom.
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Dec 5, 2012

lindsay

i don't think kidnapping is culture and when the parents refuse to pay they kill the kid anyway initiating a 16 year old should be a crime. i don't think this is lawful nor it is culture , this man is a murderer and a kidnapper
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Dec 5, 2012

MabhebezaEC___69!!!

".....Police found 14 initiates aged between 16 and 25 at the initiation school...."

Really??? 25, really now??? lol


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Dec 5, 2012

Laqasha

What a tragedy!
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