General support for ban on circumcisions in province

The Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders (ECHLT) has thrown its weight behind the ban of initiations in the Eastern Cape during March and April.

The measure was announced by premier Oscar Mabuyane last week.

ECHTL and Contralesa provincial chairperson Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana said they supported the ban. Not only would this prevent the spread of the coronavirus but would also assist in clamping down on illegal circumcisions.

''This is all about saving lives. Though there was no consultation with us leading to the ban, we came to understand that it is for a good cause, to save lives, and is in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa's directive. It is the duty of us all to be united in preventing the spread of the virus,'' said Nonkonyana.

He said that after the provincial cabinet had taken the resolution he was called by Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha to inform him.

''The MEC said the ban will be in relation to March and April, but winter and summer seasons are not affected as of now. In fact, we always regard March and April as not a suitable for initiation. Initiation activities in this period are regarded as illegal,'' said Nonkonyana.

He said there were some boys who had undergone the rite during this period in Nyandeni and Port St Johns municipal areas, but they were doing so  “illegally without even been medically screened and having documents from authorities approving it”. 

The National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL) is proposing a blanket ban on initiation for the entire year.

NHTL chairperson Nkosi Sipho Mahlangu urged all provincial houses to consult on the proposal. A decision will be taken during the chairperson's forum in Pretoria on Tuesday.

''We know that culture is important to all of us, but this pandemic is a threat to all of us and life supersedes everything, irrespective of who you are. We must all be united and curb this virus before it wipes us all out,'' said Mahlangu.

Nonkonyana said they would consult traditional leaders, tribes and communities.

Contralesa provincial secretary Nkosi Mkhanyiseli Dudumayo said to ensure all the people in the rural areas were aware of the dangers of the virus, offices of traditional leaders from the king to the lowest structure should be spreading awareness.

''We invite government officials to be deployed to rural areas to teach people about the various symptoms and dangers. We call upon communities to prioritise their lives as the coronavirus will have far reaching implications in many cultural activities,” Dudumayo said.

"It is unfortunate that the message is only in English and people hear of it on radio and TV. We as traditional leaders try our best to teach our people about this. It is the responsibility of us all to ensure that this virus does not spread to our communities.”

Close to 40,000 boys underwent the custom of ulwaluko in summer and about 20,000 in winter in the Eastern Cape.