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A 51-year-old man has been arrested after police rescued 18 minors from an alleged illegal initiation school in Vosman.
According to a media statement issued by the Office of the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, the arrest followed the disappearance of a 16-year-old boy who was allegedly recruited to the initiation school without parental consent on 22 May 2026.
Police said the victim’s mother was later contacted by the initiation school principal, who allegedly informed her that her son had already been admitted to the school. When she requested that her child be released, she was reportedly instructed to provide groceries and pay money for initiation-related expenses.
The matter was reported to Vosman SAPS, leading to the activation of the “Ingoma Task Team.” During investigations, police traced the initiation school where the missing teenager was found already initiated.
Authorities also rescued 17 additional children, aged between 14 and 17 years, who were allegedly being kept at the school without the consent of their parents. All the minors were safely returned to their families.
The initiation school’s alleged right-hand man was arrested on charges relating to the Contravention of the Customary Initiation Act and Extortion. He was expected to appear before the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on 26 May 2026.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, warned initiation school principals against recruiting or keeping minors without parental consent, adding that offenders would face the full might of the law.