More than 40000 boys in the Eastern Cape head to the mountains this weekend as the traditional initiation summer season gets going.
Parents were called to get involved and give maximum support to the ritual.
Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders (ECHTL), government departments and other sectors encouraged parents or guardians to always get permission from traditional leaders to have their sons undergo the rite.
Each initiate-candidate had to undergo the mandatory pre-circumcision medical examination, they said.
Both the Application of Health Standards in Traditional Circumcision Act of 2001, and the Cultural Male Circumcision Bill passed by the Bhisho Legislature on Tuesday, state that only boys 18 years or older may undergo the rite.
The bill is expected to be signed into law within this season
“We expect pilgrimages to traditional initiation schools to start soon after pupils have finished their end-of-year examinations.
“Initiates must be given drinking water, and no initiate must be abused or ill-treated,” said ECHTL chairman Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima.
Among the measures to be taken to safeguard initiates are:
- All districts in the province have active traditional initiation forums including doctors, health practitioners, police, NGOs and traditional leaders who will visit initiation schools. There will be police raids and doctors will treat initiates on site;
- The provincial health department will provide 35 bakkies, and more will come from municipalities and NGOs for monitoring teams; and
- Thousands of bottles of water will be distributed.
SAPS provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga warned they were ready to pounce on unlawful circumcisions and those who assaulted initiates.
Matanzima said a month-long awareness campaign promoting safe initiation had been conducted with women being involved.
He said initiation problems leading to initiate deaths were rife in the area east of the Kei, and in Buffalo City Metro.
A total of 40469 boys underwent the rite last summer excluding illegal initiates. Forty-six died, 17 in Chris Hani district.
Matanzima said parents and community elders had to check the credentials of traditional surgeons and nurses.
“Community elders, males of course, must check on the initiates and their attendants every day.
“It’s a grief that an ancient rite is being belittled by some elements such as those motivated by greed and commercialisation, fly-by-night traditional circumcision practitioners, the boys themselves and a lack of participation of parents,” said Matanzima.
“There are ‘does and don’ts’ for boys. There are procedures to be followed. It is heartbreaking to notice that parents take a back seat and let bogus practitioners dice with their sons’ lives.”
Provinicial Cogta spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said traditional leaders and government were ready. “Community halls and other buildings will be made available as rescue centres in a number of districts, in low-lying areas especially Chris Hani and other areas, where there is need.”
lThe national initiation toll-free number 0800-66-11 can be used to report problems or abuse relating to the rite. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Province gears up for summer initiation season
Parents were called to get involved and give maximum support to the ritual.
Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders (ECHTL), government departments and other sectors encouraged parents or guardians to always get permission from traditional leaders to have their sons undergo the rite.
Each initiate-candidate had to undergo the mandatory pre-circumcision medical examination, they said.
Both the Application of Health Standards in Traditional Circumcision Act of 2001, and the Cultural Male Circumcision Bill passed by the Bhisho Legislature on Tuesday, state that only boys 18 years or older may undergo the rite.
The bill is expected to be signed into law within this season
“We expect pilgrimages to traditional initiation schools to start soon after pupils have finished their end-of-year examinations.
“Initiates must be given drinking water, and no initiate must be abused or ill-treated,” said ECHTL chairman Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima.
Among the measures to be taken to safeguard initiates are:
SAPS provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga warned they were ready to pounce on unlawful circumcisions and those who assaulted initiates.
Matanzima said a month-long awareness campaign promoting safe initiation had been conducted with women being involved.
He said initiation problems leading to initiate deaths were rife in the area east of the Kei, and in Buffalo City Metro.
A total of 40469 boys underwent the rite last summer excluding illegal initiates. Forty-six died, 17 in Chris Hani district.
Matanzima said parents and community elders had to check the credentials of traditional surgeons and nurses.
“Community elders, males of course, must check on the initiates and their attendants every day.
“It’s a grief that an ancient rite is being belittled by some elements such as those motivated by greed and commercialisation, fly-by-night traditional circumcision practitioners, the boys themselves and a lack of participation of parents,” said Matanzima.
“There are ‘does and don’ts’ for boys. There are procedures to be followed. It is heartbreaking to notice that parents take a back seat and let bogus practitioners dice with their sons’ lives.”
Provinicial Cogta spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said traditional leaders and government were ready. “Community halls and other buildings will be made available as rescue centres in a number of districts, in low-lying areas especially Chris Hani and other areas, where there is need.”
lThe national initiation toll-free number 0800-66-11 can be used to report problems or abuse relating to the rite. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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