THE Eastern Cape government is considering docking the salaries of traditional leaders if initiates continued to die.
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa revealed this when he opened the summer circumcision season at the Nyandeni great place near Libode on Sunday.
“I am contemplating docking salaries of those traditional leaders where initiates continue to die.
“I am researching how much power I have enforcing and implementing the idea,” said Xasa.
A total of 43 initiates died during the summer season in the Eastern Cape last year, up from the 25 deaths recorded during same season the year before.
Since 2006, 426000 boys have undergone the traditional rite. Of these, 5586 were hospitalised, 532 died and 233 had penile amputations. To date, 257 practitioners have been arrested.
More than 40000 boys are to be circumcised in the next few weeks.
Xasa said traditional leaders needed to take greater responsibility and that the initiate deaths rightly sparked an outcry for tougher regulations.
“The government cannot fold its hands while future leaders and innocent souls are dying. While we do not want to impose ourselves as the government, we cannot wait for an invitation to intervene.”
Traditional chiefs earn a monthly salary of R15000.
Prince Mlamli Ndamase, who is a practising advocate and spokesman of Western Mpondoland king Ndamase Ndamase, said the MEC would expose himself to litigation if he implemented the idea.
“No labour law would allow him to do that. According to the appointment of traditional leaders, there is nothing saying that he must attend to initiates and be responsible if they die. Why then dock salaries if it is not their core business to look after initiates?”
Contralesa provincial chairman Chief Nkosinathi Jezile also lashed out at the idea of docking traditional leaders’ salaries. He said the MEC should first ensure there was a proper law regulating circumcision that would see those conducting illegal circumcisions prosecuted and convicted. He said currently there was no such a law.
“The issue of docking salaries is out of order and we cannot allow it to happen. It is unconstitutional.
“Traditional leaders are not employed as surgeons or nurses.
“However, as custodians of custom, they have their responsibility to ensure there are no deaths and injuries in initiation schools,” said Jezile.
Noxolile Falithenjwa of Mdlankomo Village near Libode said her last-born son Thobile Falithenjwa died in December last year. Thobile was 19 years old and dreamt of being a doctor.
“Traditional leaders must look after their subjects. But the MEC must also be harsher on the traditional nurses and surgeons, who are the real ones killing our sons in initiation schools.”
Cecilia Makiwane Hospital CEO Dr Mthandeki Xamlashe, speaking on behalf of health MEC Dr Phumza Dyantyi, said the health department has invested R20-million towards initiation this circumcision season.
A total of 37 vehicles have been hired for use by monitoring teams.
Community Development Foundation for South Africa (Codefsa) director Nkululeko Nxesi said they would also increase the number of rescue centres from two to five and provide three vehicles.
Western Mpondoland King Ndamase Ndamase said all traditional leaders in his jurisdiction would have to account for deaths. However, he called on authorities to ensure action.
“Law-enforcement agencies must also not fail, but must arrest, prosecute and convict those turning the custom into criminality.
“It’s a disgrace to us AmaMpondo that we are notorious for the high deaths of initiates countrywide.”
Executive member of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders, Chief Mnoneleli Ranuga, said: “Local traditional leaders and parents must maximise their participation to ensure that no initiate dies. To restore the dignity of the custom, elders must take a lead and not leave the rite in the hands of youngsters.”
Xasa also called for criminal investigation against those involved in mutilating initiates.
“Criminal action should not only result when initiates die. The reckless or negligent management of initiates’ health should at the very least be regarded as assault,” said Xasa. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Bush deaths may cost chiefs
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa revealed this when he opened the summer circumcision season at the Nyandeni great place near Libode on Sunday.
“I am contemplating docking salaries of those traditional leaders where initiates continue to die.
“I am researching how much power I have enforcing and implementing the idea,” said Xasa.
A total of 43 initiates died during the summer season in the Eastern Cape last year, up from the 25 deaths recorded during same season the year before.
Since 2006, 426000 boys have undergone the traditional rite. Of these, 5586 were hospitalised, 532 died and 233 had penile amputations. To date, 257 practitioners have been arrested.
More than 40000 boys are to be circumcised in the next few weeks.
Xasa said traditional leaders needed to take greater responsibility and that the initiate deaths rightly sparked an outcry for tougher regulations.
“The government cannot fold its hands while future leaders and innocent souls are dying. While we do not want to impose ourselves as the government, we cannot wait for an invitation to intervene.”
Traditional chiefs earn a monthly salary of R15000.
Prince Mlamli Ndamase, who is a practising advocate and spokesman of Western Mpondoland king Ndamase Ndamase, said the MEC would expose himself to litigation if he implemented the idea.
“No labour law would allow him to do that. According to the appointment of traditional leaders, there is nothing saying that he must attend to initiates and be responsible if they die. Why then dock salaries if it is not their core business to look after initiates?”
Contralesa provincial chairman Chief Nkosinathi Jezile also lashed out at the idea of docking traditional leaders’ salaries. He said the MEC should first ensure there was a proper law regulating circumcision that would see those conducting illegal circumcisions prosecuted and convicted. He said currently there was no such a law.
“The issue of docking salaries is out of order and we cannot allow it to happen. It is unconstitutional.
“Traditional leaders are not employed as surgeons or nurses.
“However, as custodians of custom, they have their responsibility to ensure there are no deaths and injuries in initiation schools,” said Jezile.
Noxolile Falithenjwa of Mdlankomo Village near Libode said her last-born son Thobile Falithenjwa died in December last year. Thobile was 19 years old and dreamt of being a doctor.
“Traditional leaders must look after their subjects. But the MEC must also be harsher on the traditional nurses and surgeons, who are the real ones killing our sons in initiation schools.”
Cecilia Makiwane Hospital CEO Dr Mthandeki Xamlashe, speaking on behalf of health MEC Dr Phumza Dyantyi, said the health department has invested R20-million towards initiation this circumcision season.
A total of 37 vehicles have been hired for use by monitoring teams.
Community Development Foundation for South Africa (Codefsa) director Nkululeko Nxesi said they would also increase the number of rescue centres from two to five and provide three vehicles.
Western Mpondoland King Ndamase Ndamase said all traditional leaders in his jurisdiction would have to account for deaths. However, he called on authorities to ensure action.
“Law-enforcement agencies must also not fail, but must arrest, prosecute and convict those turning the custom into criminality.
“It’s a disgrace to us AmaMpondo that we are notorious for the high deaths of initiates countrywide.”
Executive member of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders, Chief Mnoneleli Ranuga, said: “Local traditional leaders and parents must maximise their participation to ensure that no initiate dies. To restore the dignity of the custom, elders must take a lead and not leave the rite in the hands of youngsters.”
Xasa also called for criminal investigation against those involved in mutilating initiates.
“Criminal action should not only result when initiates die. The reckless or negligent management of initiates’ health should at the very least be regarded as assault,” said Xasa. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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