Snl24 | Girl (13) kidnapped for initiation

The aunt of the teenage girl who was allegedly abducted. Photo by Bulelwa Ginindza

IT’S been a week since a Mpumalanga family from Ximhungwe, Bushbuckridge, has been battling to retrieve their teenage girl from an initiation school. 

The 13-year-old girl was allegedly abducted on Sunday, 23 June, and taken to the school without her family’s consent.

It’s alleged that she was playing with other children when a group of girls lured her away.

Her 28-year-old aunt said they went to the initiation school and demanded her release but were allegedly assaulted.

“We phoned the police to come and assist us to get her back and when we got the there, we were told that there was no need for us to bring the police, we can come on the following day to talk,” she said.

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The aunt told Daily Sun that they made it clear that they don’t want long talks, but they want the child.

She said she was informed that releasing the child prematurely could allegedly lead to her going insane.

The family was also told they needed to pay a fine of at least R5 000 for her release.

“I didn’t understand why we had to talk because there is nothing that can change our minds. We went there with the hopes that they will give us our child back however threats were made, they told us that she’s going to be crazy and all these superstitions. We don’t understand how, because many parents have taken their kids back and nothing happened to them,” she said.

She further mentioned that it contradicts their family beliefs to send children, especially girls, to initiation schools.

The aunt expressed concern about the girl’s wellbeing, stressing that they can’t afford the demanded fine and simply want their child back.

“They must give us our child back. We heard that at some point she was not feeling well, and we are worried about her. What if she comes home in a coffin?” she said. 

Although the family has not formally opened a case, the police are informed about the situation.

Mpumalanga police spokesman Colonel Donald Mdluli confirmed that the cops are collaborating with the family and have planned to intervene and retrieve the child on Tuesday, 2 July.

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