Man 'forced to circumcise'

2007-12-04 13:47

Cape Town - A civil society organisation says it is to launch Equality Court proceedings on behalf of an Eastern Cape youth said to have been forcibly circumcised.

The Justice Alliance of SA (Jasa) said on Tuesday it had agreed to act free of charge for 19-year-old Bonani Yamani.

It claimed he was subjected to traditional circumcision in March this year after having himself circumcised at East London's Frere Hospital three months earlier.

"Bonani had made it clear that his conscience and religious beliefs did not allow him to undergo the traditional Xhosa rite," Jasa said in a statement.

Yamani is reportedly a devout Christian.

Jasa said it had written in October this year to Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, head of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders, and provincial leader of the Congress of SA Traditional Leaders Mwelo Nkonyana, asking for an apology to Yamani and an assurance that no one else would be subjected to circumcision against his will.

There had been no response.

"We have accordingly written again to both chiefs saying that we have no choice but to commence proceedings in the Equality Court ... on behalf of Bonani," Jasa said.

The Cape Town-based Jasa, which describes itself as "a coalition committed to the highest moral values in South African society", has been previously involved in anti-abortion lobbying.

- SAPA