Mkhize lauds circumcision call
2009-12-06 21:12
Johannesburg - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize on Sunday welcomed a call by the Zulu monarch for circumcision among young men to be revived.
"Circumcision will assist in the fight against the pandemic, although on its own does not prevent the spread of sexual transmitted diseases," the premier said in a statement.
Speaking during the ukweshwama ritual on Saturday, King Goodwill Zwelithini was quoted as saying: "In the context of the fight against HIV and Aids I should announce my intention to revive the practice of circumcision amongst young men."
Mkhize said he was in talks with the king on finding ways of making sure young men in KwaZulu-Natal were circumcised.
Scientific studies had shown that the procedure helped reduce the spread of HIV.
Mkhize said circumcision had been practised by many African communities. King Shaka put a stop to it because it caused warriors to spend many months in the veld, delaying his efforts to build a standing Zulu army.
- SAPA