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Search in an open field
The search for 11 missing young boys at Mahikeng in North West is under way.
It is alleged that the boys residing in Ramatlabama and Tsetse villages amongst others were abducted two weeks ago, by people who run illegal initiations schools in the area.
Police K9 unit together with some concerned community members conducted the search at the outskirts of the village.
Another group of 11 children who went missing in Ntsweletsoku Village near Zeerust, was found at the nearby illegal initiation school last week.
A group of community members including parents and the police are searching for the missing young boys.
They are aged between 12 and 15. It is alleged that they were lured to initiation schools.
Parents say they have been searching for their children for over a week.
“On Tuesday I heard in a taxi that the children were taken by somebody in Mogosane. That’s how I got to hear there are missing children.”
“I cannot eat or sleep because I do not know where my child is especially in this cold. I make an effort every day to go to the police stations in Mmabatho or Mahikeng.”
“Government must assist us with more resources because these people are staying in the open fields and when they hear us coming, they move to another place.”
Tumiso Keoagile from the provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee says the number of illegal initiation schools closed in the province has increased, with one fatality reported.
“We can say there are now seventeen that we have closed. But I cannot say that is all because the season continues and we will continue to do monitoring and inspections. We can confirm another death unfortunately, may the soul of the initiate rest in peace.”
Keoagile has also called on government to provide more search and rescue resources, “Our experience since last week has taught us that we don’t only need people on their feet, we also need more resources to utilise to help us find these boys. We need drones; we need those horses they normally use so we can help these poor parents and those poor initiates.”
