Circumcision: Surgeon held

2004-11-09 11:40

Cape Town - A traditional surgeon who allegedly performed an illegal circumcision on a 48-year-old man is to be prosecuted, the Eastern Cape health department said on Tuesday.

"It is alleged that a mob took this man to the bush, where he was circumcised over the weekend," said departmental spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo on Tuesday.

Kupelo said the surgeon operates in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth. He had not been arrested by Tuesday morning.

Kupelo said the circumcision season had just started, with over 30 boys in the Port Elizabeth area queuing for pre-circumcision medical tests.

These tests are required by provincial law, the Traditional Circumcision Act of 2002, which regulates circumcision in the province.

Kupelo said the department had set aside R900 000 for an awareness campaign this year to try and eradicate illegal circumcisions and possible deaths.

The department would focus on Transkei and Mdantsane, which have been identified as high risk areas.

Kupelo said it cost the department about R700 a day to treat initiates who developed complications after botched circumcisions.

"Since 1995, it has claimed more than R10m from the department."

During this time, 290 boys died, more than 5 000 were admitted to hospital, and 200 were amputees.

However, since 2003, the department embarked on an awareness campaign to educate the public and help monitor compliance with the Act, significantly reducing the number of deaths and injuries.

- SAPA