3 more initiates die
2005-07-05 11:40
Cape Town - Three more boys have died as a result of botched circumcisions in the Eastern Cape, bringing the death toll over the past few weeks to 12.
Provincial health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said a 14-year-old from an illegal initiation school at Zele in the Libode area died on arrival at Libode's St Barnabas hospital on Monday evening.
Two other boys died on Monday afternoon at illegal schools at Lutshaya village near Port St Johns, and at Kwagcuda in the Lusikisiki area.
The traditional surgeon who ran the school where the 14-year-old was circumcised, 53-year-old Mtshiyelwa Ndoda, appeared in the Libode magistrate's court on Tuesday morning on charges under the province's circumcision law.
He was denied bail, and would appear again on July 19.
Kupelo said another boy had died earlier at Ndoda's school, and a third had to have his gangrenous penis amputated.
Though Ndoda appeared on Tuesday only on the circumcision act charges, police had opened a murder docket. Ndoda was convicted last year of running an illegal initiation school and given a three-year suspended jail sentence.
Rescued five boys
Kupelo said health department officials and police on Monday rescued about five boys from an illegal school at Zandkwana village near Libode.
Three of the boys were now in a critical condition in hospital with gangrenous penises.
Raids would continue in the Libode area on Tuesday, and the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders would be deploying about 20 senior traditional leaders to Pondoland from Thursday, to talk to parents and traditional leaders in the areas where illegal circumcision was continuing.
The Eastern Cape's circumcision law lays down that schools and traditional surgeons and nurses must all be registered, and that boys must be at least 18 years old to participate.
Meanwhile, Libode police are investigating a murder charge after relatives on Tuesday reported the death of Mzuvukile Jokwe, 35, of Ngolo village, who was forcibly circumcised by a group of men on the night of June 24.
Kupelo said Jokwe apparently died immediately after the circumcision, which appeared to be an act of victimisation.
- SAPA