AHEAD of the winter initiation season the ANC in the province has joined other concerned parties and called on communities to be extra vigilant to prevent deaths and injuries at initiation schools.
The party urged its members to assist communities and traditional leaders to ensure a death-free season. “As hordes of boys are drafted into the initiation process, we call on families, communities and traditional leaders to be extra-vigilant for chancers masquerading as iingcibi and amakhankatha ,” ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said.
Mabuyane said in previous seasons some initiates had fallen victim to scams. Some had died and others had to have their genitals amputated owing to unsafe circumcision by illegal and unskilled “chancers”. “It is important for communities to stay focused so that we ensure only skilled iingcibi circumcise boys with equally skilled amakhankatha looking after them during the process.”
He said the state had made progress in fighting deaths, illegal circumcision and genital amputations. “These efforts have yielded positive results in many places in the province, except in Nyandeni (specifically Port St Johns), Ingquza Hill and Mbizana municipalities, as well as some parts of the King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality,” said Mabuyane.
Mpondoland – which includes Nyandeni, Ingquza Hill and Mbizana – remains a problem.
“All stages of initiation are important because the process needs to produce a well-mannered, respectful young man committed to the principles of manhood, not given to rape, thuggery, drugs and other social ills. Unless families, communities and traditional leaders play an active role in the initiation of our boys, we will not win the war against botched, illegal circumcision and genital amputation,” said Mabuyane.
The ANC also complained at the conviction rate of those arrested for initiation deaths and injuries.
“We urge our people to follow up on these cases to their conclusion so that those responsible can be prosecuted,” said Mabuyane.
He asked ANC members to work with community structures and to report illegal practitioners to the police. Since 2006, 496 initiates have died and 221 had penile amputations, yet only 251 practitioners have been arrested in connection with the casualties in eight years.
Forty initiates died in June and 43 in December last year.
“It’s time to end deaths, injuries and amputations. This is possible when we work together. When we do this, no one will take a chance and put the lives of our sons at risk just for money,” said Mabuyane. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
ANC calls for circumcision cooperation
The party urged its members to assist communities and traditional leaders to ensure a death-free season. “As hordes of boys are drafted into the initiation process, we call on families, communities and traditional leaders to be extra-vigilant for chancers masquerading as iingcibi and amakhankatha ,” ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said.
Mabuyane said in previous seasons some initiates had fallen victim to scams. Some had died and others had to have their genitals amputated owing to unsafe circumcision by illegal and unskilled “chancers”. “It is important for communities to stay focused so that we ensure only skilled iingcibi circumcise boys with equally skilled amakhankatha looking after them during the process.”
He said the state had made progress in fighting deaths, illegal circumcision and genital amputations. “These efforts have yielded positive results in many places in the province, except in Nyandeni (specifically Port St Johns), Ingquza Hill and Mbizana municipalities, as well as some parts of the King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality,” said Mabuyane.
Mpondoland – which includes Nyandeni, Ingquza Hill and Mbizana – remains a problem.
“All stages of initiation are important because the process needs to produce a well-mannered, respectful young man committed to the principles of manhood, not given to rape, thuggery, drugs and other social ills. Unless families, communities and traditional leaders play an active role in the initiation of our boys, we will not win the war against botched, illegal circumcision and genital amputation,” said Mabuyane.
The ANC also complained at the conviction rate of those arrested for initiation deaths and injuries.
“We urge our people to follow up on these cases to their conclusion so that those responsible can be prosecuted,” said Mabuyane.
He asked ANC members to work with community structures and to report illegal practitioners to the police. Since 2006, 496 initiates have died and 221 had penile amputations, yet only 251 practitioners have been arrested in connection with the casualties in eight years.
Forty initiates died in June and 43 in December last year.
“It’s time to end deaths, injuries and amputations. This is possible when we work together. When we do this, no one will take a chance and put the lives of our sons at risk just for money,” said Mabuyane. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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