Latest news with #BasikopoMakamu
The Herald
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald
Limpopo MEC Makamu saddened by death of initiate with underlying health condition
As the initiation season gets under way around the country, the Limpopo co-operative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs department has recorded the first death of an initiate. Raymond Sekele, 19, died on Sunday at Philadelphia Hospital where he had been admitted after experiencing health problems while at Magakadimeng initiation school in the Sekhukhune district municipality. Co-operative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs MEC Basikopo Makamu said: 'According to our monitoring report, Sekele's caregiver confirmed at the time of admission he was epileptic and receiving medical treatment for his condition. Sekele experienced an epileptic episode where he collapsed on July 2 and was attended to at the initiation school.' Sekele fully recovered later the same day and resumed normal school activities without any further complaints. 'I got a report that an initiate failed to wake up with the other initiates on Sunday. However, it was not considered unusual as he was known to sleep longer than others. At about 8am the caregiver checked on him and found he was unresponsive and had weak breathing,' said Makamu.
News24
03-07-2025
- Health
- News24
Blaze at Limpopo initiation school leaves surgeon and six initiates injured
A fire broke out at a private initiation school in Tzaneen's Maake Village in Limpopo, injuring six initiates and the traditional surgeon. The fire occurred late on Tuesday night, displacing 18 remaining initiates, who have since been relocated to another school. MEC Basikopo Makamu expressed deep concern, affirming continued government efforts to ensure adherence to safety laws during initiation seasons. Six initiates and a traditional surgeon were injured when an initiation school caught fire at Maake Village, outside Tzaneen, Limpopo. The fire broke out on Tuesday evening at a registered private initiation school. According to the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, the school reported that the surgeon, who also serves as the principal of the initiation school, and his initiates were asleep when a massive blaze woke them up at around 23:00. 'While the fire was ultimately contained, a total of seven people sustained injuries from the blaze,' said the department's spokesperson, Amos Phago. 'The five initiates are in a stable condition at Dr CN Phatudi Hospital, while the sixth was transferred to Letaba Hospital for further treatment.' Phago added that the surgeon had been discharged from hospital. MEC Basikopo Makamu said government had made extensive preparations for the initiation season. 'It leaves us without enough words to comfort the families of the affected kids, as well as the surgeon. We really wish them a speedy recovery,' he said. He said the other 18 initiates at the school had been relocated to an alternative school to allow them to complete the season. Makamu said his department would continue collaborating with the provincial health department, education department, and the police to ensure that the 2025 initiation season is a success and complies with the country's laws.
The Citizen
20-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Initiation season 2025: Limpopo approves 530 schools
Quick read Acting Premier Basikopo Makamu and Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego confirmed Limpopo's readiness for the 2025 initiation school season. The season will run from June 23 to July 21 under the theme 'They must go alive and come back alive.' A total of 569 applications were received; 530 were approved – 322 for males and 208 for females. Rejected applications came from Mopani (20), Capricorn (6), Sekhukhune (7), and Waterberg (1), mostly due to land and documentation issues. Only recognised Makgoshi may host initiation schools, and all schools must comply with the Limpopo Initiation School Act. The Act sets the minimum age at 12, sparking debate among attendees who argued for younger initiates. Full story below. Full story POLOKWANE – Acting Premier Basikopo Makamu, alongside Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego and the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) executive, held a media briefing last Wednesday to announce Limpopo's readiness for the 2025 Initiation School Season. This year's season will run from June 23 to 21 July under the guiding theme, 'A ba ye ba phela, ba boye ba phela', which translates to 'They must go alive and come back alive'. Later in the day, the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) hosted a pre-initiation school workshop at the Jack Botes Hall. The workshop aimed to clarify the responsibilities of permit holders, senior traditional leaders, traditional surgeons, and caregivers during the 2025 season. PICC chairperson Hosi Chauke and deputy chairperson Kgosi Rammupudu reported that 569 applications were received for both winter and summer initiation schools. Of these, 530 were approved – 322 for male initiates and 208 for female initiates. Makamu stressed that only officially recognised Makgoshi from Limpopo districts would be permitted to host initiation schools. Rejected applications included Mopani (20), Capricorn (6), Sekhukhune (7) and Waterberg (1) and the reasons for rejection ranged from land jurisdiction issues to missing required documentation. According to the Limpopo Initiation School Act, no child under the age of 12 is allowed to be admitted for initiation. This regulation sparked lively debate among those present. Some caregivers advocated for younger initiates, citing faster healing, while others questioned the age restriction in traditional circumcision when no such requirement exists in western medical circumcision. In response, Rammupudu urged attendees to respect the law, despite differing opinions. 'We hear your concerns. But we must remember, we did not create this law, the government did. We promise to engage with government on potential age amendments, but for now, let us abide by the law to avoid imprisonment.' Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego confirmed that her department would collaborate closely with the police and traditional surgeons to prevent complications. 'We will deploy doctors and nurses to safeguard the initiates. Importantly, we'll send medical personnel who have previously undergone initiation, to respect cultural protocols.' The PICC, in partnership with the police, Education, Health, and the National Prosecuting Authority committed to ongoing monitoring of all legal initiation schools to ensure strict compliance and the safety of all initiates. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Tzaneen's Talana hostel upgrade to bring 146 homes
TZANEEN – The Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) has announced the construction of 146 Community Residential Units (CRUs) at Talana Hostel in Tzaneen as part of its R2.57 billion Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget. Speaking during the presentation, CoGHSTA MEC Basikopo Makamu confirmed that the project is set to begin in the second quarter of 2025, with the procurement process for a contractor already underway. 'To keep up with growing housing demands due to migration, we are prioritising the construction of CRUs in areas like Talana under the Greater Tzaneen Municipality,' Makamu said. He also highlighted efforts to address critical infrastructure challenges, noting that CoGHSTA will assist water service authorities in upgrading sewer systems posing health risks in areas such as Dan village in Tzaneen. He reported that while the sewer line in Makotse village has been completed, engineering designs for Dan village are in progress following a detailed site assessment. Makamu reaffirmed the department's commitment to reducing informal settlements, including targeted intervention in the Maruleng Municipality. He further outlined progress on various projects in the Mopani District, including the Ha-Mawasha Sewer Bulk Line, Giyani Extension F and H Bulk Water Pipelines, and the Siyandhani Bulk Sewer Pipeline. Makamu said he recently visited the Giyani Section F and Masakaneng bulk water and sewage projects. He praised the progress, especially in Giyani Section F, where the project is complete and ready for municipal allocation of residential sites. The development has already created 21 job opportunities and is expected to benefit 365 households, he said. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
