Clampdown on initiation schools

2003-07-13 10:16

By N Musetha, M Mokoena and C Pearce

East London - A no-nonsense approach against widespread illegal circumcision schools is under way in the provinces.

Some initiates as young as five have been found at initiation schools.

The clampdown has also been sparked by the admission of hundreds of young boys to hospital suffering from septic cuts, wounds and illnesses.

At least nine deaths were reported last week in the Eastern Cape alone. The province has since seen arrests of traditional surgeons and the burning down of some schools - the strongest messages yet from any provincial government to stem the abuse of children's rights.

Sizwe Kupelo, provincial health department spokesperson, said five traditional surgeons have been charged for contravening the Traditional Circumcision Act.

Four of the surgeons are out on R1 000 bail each. Another is still in custody.

Inkosi Mpiyezintombi Mzimela, chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders, said the Eastern Cape government in collaboration with traditional leaders of the area should do more to stop deaths during circumcisions.

"We believe most of the mischief is taking place in schools that are not legal," he said.

Eastern Cape Health MEC Dr Bevan Goqwana met resistance from angry locals in the old Transkei who claimed the removal of initiates was against their traditional beliefs.

He defied them and closed two illegal circumcision schools. Goqwana visited an illegal school in his home village of Cingco near Tsolo, where he inspected four youths and declared two medically unfit.

In Limpopo, more than 200 initiates have been hospitalised in the last three weeks, a government official told City Press.

At Khensani hospital in Giyani, Limpopo, 19 initiates were admitted earlier this week after they sustained serious cuts.

One of these is Godfrey Mkhari, 15, who sustained serious burns to his hands after he was pushed into a fire by another initiate.

Morongwa Monyela, 63, of Mentz, Mankweng in Limpopo, was arrested after she was found running an illegal initiation school. She allegedly hired men as circumcision surgeons and was charging R650 per initiate. She appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate's Court and paid R1 000 for an admission of guilt.

At Mathiba's Kraal, still in Limpopo, five men were arrested after they were found running an illegal school with 87 initiates.

Harry Mchunu from the national department of health said the reason some of the initiates lose their lives is because hygiene standards are not followed at the schools.

He urged parents not to submit their children to "fly-by-night schools".

Jody Kollapen, from the Human Rights Commission of South Africa, said: "We understand the schools must exist because of the important role they play for a young man to enter manhood.

"The challenge, however, is how the school should function in a way that recognises the rights of children who attend such schools.

"You do not have to make a choice between human rights norms and culture. The challenge is to reconcile them. And they are indeed reconcilable," said Kollapen.

- City Press