Stop the bloodshed and restore dignity to respected tradition
IT IS painful to learn that while some families are celebrating the return of their children from a historical moment for a male child, others are mourning.
What went wrong, ma-Afrika, that a ritual (ukwaluka) that used to be a school to millions of Xhosa children and other tribes has turned into a death zone for hundreds of youngsters from the Eastern Cape?
When boys leave their homes to go to the hill (entabeni), their parents have high expectations that their sons will not just undergo circumcision as a practice but will also be given lessons on how to live a life responsibly after being certified as men.
Circumcision has long been regarded as the graduation ceremony of a boy who has undergone an educational programme which teaches tribal beliefs, practices and culture to youths on the verge of becoming fully-fledged members of society.
According to the current statistics revealed in the Dispatch (June 29), between 2006 and 2014, out of a total of 400 000 boys who underwent the practice, 532 died, 233 had penile amputations and 5 586 were admitted to hospitals. This is of great concern for our culture, health and identity as a nation, particularly black people.
I think a robust debate must occur between traditional leaders, health practitioners and communities in general.
The reason for calling all the affected parties together is that some ethnic groups and communities do not accept the modernised practice of circumcision.
But my question is should we continue to put our heads in the sand while a ritual that used to be a school of learning turns into one of bloodshed?
I do not think it is in the interest of the government to change the culture and beliefs of the people, but the continuous deaths of initiates needs serious attention.
I also do not believe that the traditional leaders and government are doing enough to protect and defend those who are humiliated and subjected to ridicule as “boys” just because their circumcision went wrong and as a result they were admitted to hospital.
There have been many of these instances and then the person is not accepted by his peers in the communities at all.
A new mindset needs to be introduced in our communities. Considering the challenges facing initiation in our province and looking at the manner in which we think about this practice, it will take us many years to overcome the deaths of initiates.
The government cannot win the fight alone; parents must take full responsibility for their children going to illegal traditional surgeons and nurses.
Illegal initiation schools must be exposed and shamed in order to save lives and bring back the respect and dignity that this practice deserves. — Simpiwe Malongwe, via e-mail
Zuma untouchable
DEAR comrades, friends and compatriots, I am deeply hurt by what I see – or rather experience happening – under the ANC government led by President J G Zuma.
The man is untouchable.
It may be that people are using him for their own benefit. People used to say the ANC was bigger than any individual but the current number one is bigger than the ANC. To me he is no longer an asset, he is a liability.
How come he allows blunder after blunder to happen right under his nose?
I am talking about the Nkandla debacle. What are the guidelines for security improvements for a sitting president? Is there no maximum amount or limit in terms of expenditure for these upgrades? Can so much of the country’s fiscus be exhausted on security upgrades for a president?
Further, how can he allow his administration to undermine the office of the public protector? Why is he allowing the speaker of parliament to be so blatantly biased? Why is he not calling his police minister to order?
Under his watch corruption is escalating, so is lawlessness. The very constitution we fought for is being undermined. Why?
Because he sets the trend and others are following. Who in this land is ever going to respect the courts when the very people who are supposed to lead the way are the ones who disrespect the courts?
Let the people who are in a position to turn things around for our movement move swiftly to save the ANC. Aluta continua. — Name supplied, via e-mail
Charge the president
THE International Criminal Court should charge President Jacob Zuma with contempt for allowing Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir to leave without arrest.
He should also be charged for the deaths of the Marikana miners. And also for sabotaging the efforts to develop Africa – he is bringing it down. — Skhu, East London
Farlam flop
THE findings of the recent Farlam Commission refer. To me this is a flop and waste of time and money by the presidency. And you have to wonder whether President Jacob Zuma’s office really did apply its mind to the mammoth task of the commission or was it just a delaying tactic?
It seems like it aimed to brush off some issues and please the state at the expense of the poor citizens. — Mawanda Sihele, via e-mail
Ambulance injury
I WISH to bring to the attention of the premier and the MEC for health in the Eastern Cape the fact that the public service is under siege by ignorant officials who continue to occupy positions of management while failing to be equal the task and responsibility assigned to them – that of caring for the vulnerable, elderly citizens of this country.
On January 30 my mother, Ellen Mbatha, from Alice, was transported from the Victoria Hospital to Frere Hospital, East London.
On arrival as she was disembarking with the help of the porters, the ambulance drove off. As a result she hit the ground and sustained both head and body injuries.
I wrote to the CEO, who assured me the head of risk and quality assurance would attend to the matter and revert to me, but to no avail. — Themba Mbatha, via e-mail Write to the Editor at 35 Caxton Street, East London 5201. Fax: (043) 743 5155. Email: letters@dispatch.co.za. Please include your name, telephone number and address. Letters should not exceed 200 words. The Editor reserves the right to edit or reject letters. Preference will be given to readers writing under their own full name.