As the Eastern Cape prepares for the summer circumcision and initiation season, there is concern over the high rate of illegal circumcisions in Buffalo City Metro.
The Provincial Initiation Technical Team (PITT), in a meeting attended by stakeholders from all over the province including BCM and Nelson Mandela Metro, painted a dire picture of illegitimate traditional surgeons breaking the law by circumcising underage boys and getting away with it.
PITT convenor and Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders CEO Mzi Nkantsu said many initiates had lost their manhood due to botched circumcisions and others their lives at the hands of bogus traditional surgeons trying to score a quick buck.
He said the Customary Male Initiation Practice Act allowed for those found breaking the law to be locked behind bars.
“We have some concerns with Buffalo City Metro, especially in Mdantsane. There are some traditional surgeons who circumcise underage boys and it was worse in the winter season. But we hope that as we go forward to the summer season the police will do their best and have them not just arrested but jailed,” said Nkantsu.
According to the law, introduced late last year, only boys who are 18 years and older can undergo the rite.
Nkantsu said cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa had written to police provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga to raise concerns over the policing of traditional initiation in BCM.
He said they would intensify their efforts in BCM to improve the situation.
Nkantsu said the 2017 winter season death toll throughout the entire province had been reduced by 76%, with about 58% fewer injuries.
Eight initiates died during winter season, excluding the five who were burnt to death in an initiation hut in Qumbu and one who was shot and killed while visiting his girlfriend in the Chris Hani district. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Illegal circumcisions in BCM a cause for concern
The Provincial Initiation Technical Team (PITT), in a meeting attended by stakeholders from all over the province including BCM and Nelson Mandela Metro, painted a dire picture of illegitimate traditional surgeons breaking the law by circumcising underage boys and getting away with it.
PITT convenor and Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders CEO Mzi Nkantsu said many initiates had lost their manhood due to botched circumcisions and others their lives at the hands of bogus traditional surgeons trying to score a quick buck.
He said the Customary Male Initiation Practice Act allowed for those found breaking the law to be locked behind bars.
“We have some concerns with Buffalo City Metro, especially in Mdantsane. There are some traditional surgeons who circumcise underage boys and it was worse in the winter season. But we hope that as we go forward to the summer season the police will do their best and have them not just arrested but jailed,” said Nkantsu.
According to the law, introduced late last year, only boys who are 18 years and older can undergo the rite.
Nkantsu said cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa had written to police provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga to raise concerns over the policing of traditional initiation in BCM.
He said they would intensify their efforts in BCM to improve the situation.
Nkantsu said the 2017 winter season death toll throughout the entire province had been reduced by 76%, with about 58% fewer injuries.
Eight initiates died during winter season, excluding the five who were burnt to death in an initiation hut in Qumbu and one who was shot and killed while visiting his girlfriend in the Chris Hani district. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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