An initiate has already died and three others have been hospitalised in the Eastern Cape – and this is a month ahead of the summer circumcision season.
A 15-year-old died in his initiation hut at KwaLandile village in Ngqeleni last Wednesday.
Although the main initiation seasons are in summer and winter, there are more than 40 initiates that have already been circumcised in villages around OR Tambo’s Nyandeni sub-district.
Most of the initiates are from villages around Ngqeleni.
Cooperative and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Obed Bapela had agreed with traditional leaders that there should be a dedicated traditional circumcision unit with personnel and vehicles monitoring initiation throughout the year.
Nyandeni Traditional Initiation Monitoring Team chairman Landela Gwadiso said the death, the number of boys already circumcised and the number in rescue centres, indicated that traditional circumcision and initiation was no longer seasonal.
“The traditional monitoring team or traditional circumcision units should be operative throughout the year,” he said.
Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders’ chairman Ngangomhlaba Matanzima said death was not part of the “custom”.
“Laws should be harsher and traditional leaders stricter,” said Matanzima.
Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said three three initiates were admitted at Canzibe Hospital in Ngqeleni.
“One of them had his penis partially amputated and others were dehydrated,” said Kupelo.
Gwadiso said in the winter season, seven initiates had died in Nyandeni.
Community Development Foundation of South Africa executive director Nkululeko Nxesi said there were 25 initiates in the rescue centres in Bhukwini and Zibungu villages in Ngqeleni.
“The youngest is 13 years old. They were circumcised by a high school pupil. It seems like people start conducting illegal circumcision months before the season officially starts to beat the stricter controls,” said Nxesi.
“Some of them undergo illegal circumcision in earlier months, saying in the summer season they are kidnapped and forced to undergo the male medical examination which results in them being stigmatised and ostracised.”
He said some of the initiates did not even write their September academic examinations.
Bapela recently announced that the government was considering replacing traditional surgeons (iingcibi) with qualified medical doctors to conduct traditional circumcisions surgeries. The plan angered traditional leaders.
Kupelo said disagreement on the method of circumcision was a worrying factor which had bad consequences.
“We should focus on ensuring that no initiate dies because of circumcision.
“The method – be it medical circumcision or traditional circumcision – is not more than the value of life.” — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Botched circumcision kills initiate
A 15-year-old died in his initiation hut at KwaLandile village in Ngqeleni last Wednesday.
Although the main initiation seasons are in summer and winter, there are more than 40 initiates that have already been circumcised in villages around OR Tambo’s Nyandeni sub-district.
Most of the initiates are from villages around Ngqeleni.
Cooperative and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Obed Bapela had agreed with traditional leaders that there should be a dedicated traditional circumcision unit with personnel and vehicles monitoring initiation throughout the year.
Nyandeni Traditional Initiation Monitoring Team chairman Landela Gwadiso said the death, the number of boys already circumcised and the number in rescue centres, indicated that traditional circumcision and initiation was no longer seasonal.
“The traditional monitoring team or traditional circumcision units should be operative throughout the year,” he said.
Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders’ chairman Ngangomhlaba Matanzima said death was not part of the “custom”.
“Laws should be harsher and traditional leaders stricter,” said Matanzima.
Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said three three initiates were admitted at Canzibe Hospital in Ngqeleni.
“One of them had his penis partially amputated and others were dehydrated,” said Kupelo.
Gwadiso said in the winter season, seven initiates had died in Nyandeni.
Community Development Foundation of South Africa executive director Nkululeko Nxesi said there were 25 initiates in the rescue centres in Bhukwini and Zibungu villages in Ngqeleni.
“The youngest is 13 years old. They were circumcised by a high school pupil. It seems like people start conducting illegal circumcision months before the season officially starts to beat the stricter controls,” said Nxesi.
“Some of them undergo illegal circumcision in earlier months, saying in the summer season they are kidnapped and forced to undergo the male medical examination which results in them being stigmatised and ostracised.”
He said some of the initiates did not even write their September academic examinations.
Bapela recently announced that the government was considering replacing traditional surgeons (iingcibi) with qualified medical doctors to conduct traditional circumcisions surgeries. The plan angered traditional leaders.
Kupelo said disagreement on the method of circumcision was a worrying factor which had bad consequences.
“We should focus on ensuring that no initiate dies because of circumcision.
“The method – be it medical circumcision or traditional circumcision – is not more than the value of life.” — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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