Cops hunt nurse's killers
2005-01-03 21:57
Cape Town - South African police were on Monday looking for two men who allegedly killed a man acting as a traditional nurse in a circumcision school in the Eastern Cape province, where young men undergo traditional rites of passage to manhood.
Fanele Kenneth Ntshinga, 26, of Port Elizabeth was beaten to death on New Year's Eve after his initiate had become ill, police spokesperson Thembi Gwe told AFP.
"They assaulted him for being careless," said Gwe, who said the two men had still not been arrested.
Each year thousands of young men, mainly from the Xhosa-speaking ethnic group, undergo this ancient practice in their bid to gain respect and social standing within the community.
Over the years, hundreds of initiates have either died or had their penises amputated due to botched circumcisions, dehydration and "ill-treatment".
Police said Ntshinga was beaten to death after one of his several initiates became ill and taken to hospital where the initiate was treated.
The incident apparently infuriated some family members, who accused Ntshinga of being negligent.
His death has alarmed community leaders and the chairperson of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders, chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, told SAPA that Friday's incident was "unheard of".
Matanzima said the incident showed there were "serious problems" around initiations, adding that he condemned the murder.
Traditional practitioners who perform the operation must have the permission of a medical officer, who must also license each circumcision school.