EMALAHLENI – Police have rescued 18 minors from an alleged illegal initiation school in Vosman near eMalahleni and arrested a 51-year-old suspect linked to the facility.
The operation, conducted on 23 May 2026, followed the reported disappearance of a 16-year-old boy who was allegedly recruited into the initiation school without his parents' consent.
According to a statement issued by the Office of the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga, the boy's mother received a call from the initiation school principal informing her that her son had already been admitted.
When she attempted to fetch him, she was allegedly instructed to provide groceries and pay fees. She subsequently opened a case at Vosman Police Station.
The Ingoma Task Team was activated and traced the initiation school to Vosman.
Upon arrival, police discovered that the 16-year-old boy had already undergone initiation. A search of the premises led to the rescue of 17 more minors, aged between 14 and 17, who were allegedly being kept at the facility without parental consent.
All 18 minors were safely reunited with their families.
Police arrested a man believed to be the initiation school's assistant. He faces charges relating to the alleged contravention of the Customary Initiation Act and extortion.
The suspect made first appearance before the eMalahleni Magistrate's Court on Friday, 29 May 2026 and he remains in custody.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, condemned the incident and warned initiation school operators against unlawfully recruiting or detaining minors.
“Anyone who operates outside the law and involves minors without parental consent will face the full might of the law,” he said.
Police said investigations are continuing and additional charges may be added as more information becomes available.
