Deputy Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Obed Bapela called for the strengthening of laws to punish those illegally circumcising young boys in the Eastern Cape.
Bapela said the assault and death of initiates in the mountains was inhumane.
“There are cases that go unpunished where initiates will be circumcised deep in the mountains where no one can reach them. Those people need to be found and punished for this,” said Bapela.
He said this as the death toll in the Eastern Cape rose to 21 after the start of the summer circumcision season. he said special courts were needed to deal with the problem.
Bapela was in the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) visiting initiation schools in the region. He was in the company of local traditional leaders, Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders deputy chairman Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, BCM’s ANC chief whip Mzwandile Vaaiboom and chief whip for traditional affairs at BCM, Stanley Makinana.
The deputy minister visited initiation schools in Mdantsane, Amalinda and Beacon Bay’s Nompumelelo township.
He addressed more than 100 initiates and the message from him was clear: all initiates must report any wrongdoing by people who are tasked with looking after them.
“We need to protect, preserve and promote this tradition. To do that we need to make sure that the initiates are not punished, but are also made to exercise to be physically fit as well,” he said.
Burns-Ncamashe was angry when arriving in Mdantsane where he saw initiates dancing while listening to a radio. He likened the behaviour to an article published by the Daily Dispatch yesterday about initiates taking selfies and pictures with women, which is not permitted.
“Look at the paper, there are initiates who are taking photographs with women. We really need to respect this age-old tradition,” said Burns-Ncamashe.
Parent Thobile Dlutu welcomed the visit, saying the deputy minister should deal more with illegal initiation.
“The only problem that leads to the death of these initiates are illegal initiation schools. If the minister can fight that then we will be happy.
“Also, it is important for all the surgeons who work with these kids to have a uniform where they could be easily identified,” said Dlutu.
Cogta spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said of the 21 initiates who had died in the province, 11 were from the Chris Hani district. He said there were plans to establish rescue centres in the district.
“Cogta in the province will spearhead the process of establishing rescue centres to stem the rising number of initiate deaths in the district. We will enlist the support of the South African Police Services to work with our monitoring teams to remove the initiates from the schools to the rescue centres.”
Ngam said as dehydration appeared to be the main cause of death, medical doctors would be available in the rescue centres.
Tough laws needed for illegal circumcision
Bapela said the assault and death of initiates in the mountains was inhumane.
“There are cases that go unpunished where initiates will be circumcised deep in the mountains where no one can reach them. Those people need to be found and punished for this,” said Bapela.
He said this as the death toll in the Eastern Cape rose to 21 after the start of the summer circumcision season. he said special courts were needed to deal with the problem.
Bapela was in the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) visiting initiation schools in the region. He was in the company of local traditional leaders, Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders deputy chairman Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, BCM’s ANC chief whip Mzwandile Vaaiboom and chief whip for traditional affairs at BCM, Stanley Makinana.
The deputy minister visited initiation schools in Mdantsane, Amalinda and Beacon Bay’s Nompumelelo township.
He addressed more than 100 initiates and the message from him was clear: all initiates must report any wrongdoing by people who are tasked with looking after them.
“We need to protect, preserve and promote this tradition. To do that we need to make sure that the initiates are not punished, but are also made to exercise to be physically fit as well,” he said.
Burns-Ncamashe was angry when arriving in Mdantsane where he saw initiates dancing while listening to a radio. He likened the behaviour to an article published by the Daily Dispatch yesterday about initiates taking selfies and pictures with women, which is not permitted.
“Look at the paper, there are initiates who are taking photographs with women. We really need to respect this age-old tradition,” said Burns-Ncamashe.
Parent Thobile Dlutu welcomed the visit, saying the deputy minister should deal more with illegal initiation.
“The only problem that leads to the death of these initiates are illegal initiation schools. If the minister can fight that then we will be happy.
“Also, it is important for all the surgeons who work with these kids to have a uniform where they could be easily identified,” said Dlutu.
Cogta spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said of the 21 initiates who had died in the province, 11 were from the Chris Hani district. He said there were plans to establish rescue centres in the district.
“Cogta in the province will spearhead the process of establishing rescue centres to stem the rising number of initiate deaths in the district. We will enlist the support of the South African Police Services to work with our monitoring teams to remove the initiates from the schools to the rescue centres.”
Ngam said as dehydration appeared to be the main cause of death, medical doctors would be available in the rescue centres.
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