'Spy' cut up about initiations

Bushbuckridge - A Limpopo man who broke a cultural taboo by "spying" on an initiation has allegedly been circumcised as punishment, according to Inspector Bonginkosi Msimango.

Foster Makukule (37) of Gottenburg village near Bushbuckridge claims seven initiates kidnapped him and he was forced to undergo the initiation ceremony after he had been caught trying to peer into the school a day before.

The headmaster of the initiation school and seven initiates were not asked to plead on charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm when they appeared before the Mhala magistrate's court on Monday.

Headmaster Richard Thengwayo (55) was granted R600 bail and the initiates R300 bail each pending their next appearance on September 27.

Makukule was allegedly chased from the initiation school on August 11 and was abducted from his home and taken to the initiation school on August 12.

Family members reported the alleged abduction to police on August 13, but police raided the school to rescue Makukule only on Friday.

It is reportedly a traditional norm that if a man is caught near an initiation school he is considered to be an applicant and is incorporated into the ceremony.

The accused initiates are: Happiness Mnisi (21), Johan Ngobeni (18), Patrick (22), Irvin Hlathini Mnisi (18), Louis Thengwayo (37) and two 15-year-old youths. —African Eye News Service