ASSAULTS of initiates, corrupt traditional leaders who promote unlawful circumcision and a lack of will by police to make arrests are factors contributing to initiation deaths.
The Bhisho legislature health portfolio committee described initiation as a custom in crisis that needed immediate intervention with all resources available.
The Eastern Cape death toll now stands at 25.
The committee visited the OR Tambo district where 18 of the initiates died.
Traditional leaders in the area have been accused of signing fraudulent circumcision documents and in doing so promoting unlawful circumcision.
Deaths have been reported in King Sabata Dalindyebo, Nyandeni, Cathcart, Queenstown, East London, Flagstaff, Bizana, Qumbu and Tsolo.
“Some of the initiates died of septicaemia, dehydration, acute respiratory distress, hypothermia, among other things,” said health portfolio committee chairman Mxolisi Dimaza.
The committee, which is on athe fact-finding mission, on Monday visited Lusikisiki and Mthatha to hear for themselves about the problems facing the custom of initiation.
“It is of great concern that some traditional leaders are accused of making the situation worse than being part of a solution,” said Dimaza.
“We heard that some traditional leaders are promoting under-age and unlawful circumcision of our boys.
“Some traditional leaders were accused of signing fraudulent documents and allowing boys as young as 14 years of age to be circumcised.”
The committee visited the initiation rescue centre in Lusikisiki where initiates rescued from illegal initiation schools were being kept.
“Traditional leaders are supposed to guard jealously against elements aimed at denting the custom. We are not expecting them to act in a criminal manner, which at the end of the day results in deaths of initiates.”
The committee is going to engage the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders and the Bhisho legislature.
Dimaza said for proper monitoring and community participation, initiation schools needed to be centralised.
Premier Phumulo Masualle and local government and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa will his morning address the media in Bhisho at 9am today onbout the state of traditional initiation in the Eastern Cape and announce steps to be taken by the government to address the crisis.
The media briefing will be in Bhisho at 9am. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Bhisho acts as initiate deaths rise
The Bhisho legislature health portfolio committee described initiation as a custom in crisis that needed immediate intervention with all resources available.
The Eastern Cape death toll now stands at 25.
The committee visited the OR Tambo district where 18 of the initiates died.
Traditional leaders in the area have been accused of signing fraudulent circumcision documents and in doing so promoting unlawful circumcision.
Deaths have been reported in King Sabata Dalindyebo, Nyandeni, Cathcart, Queenstown, East London, Flagstaff, Bizana, Qumbu and Tsolo.
“Some of the initiates died of septicaemia, dehydration, acute respiratory distress, hypothermia, among other things,” said health portfolio committee chairman Mxolisi Dimaza.
The committee, which is on athe fact-finding mission, on Monday visited Lusikisiki and Mthatha to hear for themselves about the problems facing the custom of initiation.
“It is of great concern that some traditional leaders are accused of making the situation worse than being part of a solution,” said Dimaza.
“We heard that some traditional leaders are promoting under-age and unlawful circumcision of our boys.
“Some traditional leaders were accused of signing fraudulent documents and allowing boys as young as 14 years of age to be circumcised.”
The committee visited the initiation rescue centre in Lusikisiki where initiates rescued from illegal initiation schools were being kept.
“Traditional leaders are supposed to guard jealously against elements aimed at denting the custom. We are not expecting them to act in a criminal manner, which at the end of the day results in deaths of initiates.”
The committee is going to engage the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders and the Bhisho legislature.
Dimaza said for proper monitoring and community participation, initiation schools needed to be centralised.
Premier Phumulo Masualle and local government and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa will his morning address the media in Bhisho at 9am today onbout the state of traditional initiation in the Eastern Cape and announce steps to be taken by the government to address the crisis.
The media briefing will be in Bhisho at 9am. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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