Tragic loss:19-year-old Onalenna Booi dies after forced initiation

A grade 12 pupil at Tlego Tawana Secondary School in the North West has died after he was allegedly forcefully taken to an initiation school. 

Onalenna Booi, a 19-year-old from Ditlhakong East Village, near Mafikeng, was taken to the initiation school after writing his matric examinations in late November. 

It has been reported that his family was unaware of his whereabouts. 

He was found dead on December 26, 2025, after a case of a missing person was reported to the police.

Expressing his sadness, school principal Pogiso Tshipo said he was expecting a bachelor's pass from the deceased learner. 

“As the school principal for this learner, I am extremely devastated by this sad news. I was expecting a bachelor’s pass from this learner because I know that he was one of the hard-working groups of learners. I remember that I spoke to him around September 2025 and he promised to do well in his examinations," said Tshipo. 

He added: “He was naughty just like all the learners, but when he started grade 12, his behaviour drastically changed. You could see that this was a learner who was hungry and determined to perform well in his grade 12 class. At our school, I had 59 grade 12 learners. Next year, I will be releasing the results to only 58 learners. I don’t even know how we are going to handle this process at the school.”

North West MEC for Education, Vela Motsumi, has called on police to get to the bottom of this matter and find those responsible for this tragedy.  

“On behalf of the North West Department of Education, I hereby wish to convey my sincerest condolences to the entire family and the school community of Tlego Tawana Secondary School. It is really sad to receive such news while we, as a country, are awaiting the results of the class of 2025. 

“I am confident that the South African Police Service will be able to get to the bottom of this matter and that those responsible will be found and brought to justice. We will ensure that the family, learners, and teachers are provided with psychological support during this difficult period," Motsumi said.  

This comes amid growing concerns regarding the high number of initiation-related deaths since the beginning of the 2025 summer initiation season.

Last week, Minister of the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, convened a high-level meeting with various stakeholders, including ministers, deputy ministers, premiers, and MECs who are District Development Model (DDM) Champions, to deliberate on the continued loss of lives and the serious challenges associated with the initiation process across the country. 

Deliberations focused on the state of initiation schools across the affected provinces, the resource and operational capacity of Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committees (PICCs), and ongoing challenges in the implementation of the Customary Initiation Act (CIA). Particular concern was raised about criminal activities linked to illegal initiation schools, including six reported cases of kidnapping in the Free State Province, all associated with unlawful operations.

This was after 36 young men died in initiation schools across the country. 

Eastern Cape reported 20 deaths, followed by the Free State with 13. 

Gauteng reported two fatalities, while North West reported one. 

“Despite sustained advocacy and educational campaigns conducted by the government and its partners, the tragic loss of initiates continues to persist. In response, it was noted that law enforcement agencies have intensified their efforts, resulting in over 40 arrests related to initiation-related offences during the current season, particularly in the Eastern Cape,” read the statement.

Hlabisa emphasised that while initiation remains an important and respected cultural practice, it must never endanger lives. The Minister stressed that decisive action, accountability and cooperation across all sectors of society are non-negotiable in addressing this crisis.

The meeting reached consensus on the following key actions:

– Parents and guardians must play an active and primary role in the initiation process, including verifying the legality of initiation schools, the credentials of practitioners, and the conditions under which initiates are cared for.

– DDM Champions must intensify coordination and oversight in their respective districts, working closely with traditional leaders, law enforcement, health authorities, community structures and other stakeholders to promote and enforce safe initiation practices.

– Educational awareness campaigns must be strengthened, with a focus on the role of parents and guardians, legal requirements for initiation schools, the dangers of illegal practices, and the shared responsibility to protect initiates.

– The capacity of recovery centres must be prioritised.

Hlabisa also informed the meeting that he would convene a national initiation meeting in February 2026, which will bring together all stakeholders involved in the initiation process, to produce concrete, actionable solutions to decisively address initiation-related deaths and other challenges.

manyane.manyane@inl.co.za