9 initiation rite surgeons held

Initiate death toll now up to 24

NINE traditional surgeons have been arrested for performing unlawful circumcisions since the beginning of the summer initiation season.

Cooperative government and traditional affairs (Cogta) provincial spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said the traditional surgeons who had been arrested were from various districts in the province and were in police custody.

Ngam said the department was pleased with the action by some parents who had opened cases with police after their sons had been circumcised unlawfully and without the parents’ permission.

“At least nine traditional surgeons from various parts of the province have been arrested for unlawful circumcision and are in custody,” he said.

Ngam said that most of the arrested traditional surgeons were from King Sabata Dalindyebo municipal areas, which included Mthatha and Mqanduli.

“Of the nine arrested, two were from Cacadu [formerly Lady Frere], one is from Tamarha village near King William’s Town and KSD has seen the arrest of six traditional surgeons,” said Ngam.

He said one of the traditional surgeons had already been convicted and sentenced while the remaining eight were out on bail or warnings.

Ngam said the province was still faced with the challenge of illegal initiation schools, which contributed to the problem of circumcising young boys, some only 11 years old.

According to laws regulating traditional initiation, boys should be 18 years or older before they undergo the rite. The traditional surgeon must also have written permission from the boy’s parents.

Ngam said police had so far opened 19 inquest dockets in connection with the deaths of initiates. The death toll in the province now stands at 24.

In the 2015 summer season, 46 initiates died.

“We have to scrutinise each and every death. There are cases where an initiate died because of dehydration because he was denied water but the traditional surgeon lied saying that [the initiate] had been given water.

“We want traditional circumcision practitioners to account for each and every death. Nobody must kill initiates and escape arrest,” said Ngam.

He said the most deaths were in the Chris Hani region where eight initiates had died so far.

Police were investigating whether the inquest dockets should be changed to murder, culpable homicide or natural death.

Department of health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said that 14 initiates had been taken to a rescue centre in Mbizana. A further two were admitted to Greenville Hospital in Mbizana for observation.

“They are all from an initiation school where there had been a recent death,” said Kupelo. —