DEATH TOLL RISES IN INITIATE SEASON

Mhlontlo traditional surgeon arrested for illegal circumcision

A twelfth initiate is reported to have died during the summer season in the Eastern Cape

Twelve initiates have been confirmed dead in the Eastern Cape this summer season.

Cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) provincial spokesperson Mamnkeli Ngam said the latest deaths were reported in the Buffalo City Metro, Chris Hani and Joe Gqabi districts.

Ngam said the 12th death happened on December 4, but authorities only came to know about it on Friday.

Yanga Kohlakala, 19, of Clubview in King William’s Town died on December 4, 11 days after he was legally circumcised.

“Postmortem results are that he died of septic circumcision. The report about this death came from the community as he was not reported by the family,” said Ngam.

This was the third reported death in BCM. Esona Mgidlana, 18, burnt to death when his initiation hut caught alight last Wednesday at around 4am in Amalinda while Liyema Libazi, 18, died last Tuesday in NU1 Mdantsane, apparently after an asthma attack.

Tumela Raisa, 18, of Ilinge township in Komani died on Friday at about 2pm, five days after he was circumcised.

“Dehydration is suspected as episodes of hallucination were experienced. Both the initiate and traditional surgeon were legal, but the legality of the traditional nurse is still being investigated,” said Ngam.

Also on Friday, Wanga Ndabeni, 18 of Barkly East in Joe Gqabi died after he was legally circumcised on December 1.

Ngam said Ndabeni had developed a swollen scrotum, but they were still awaiting postmortem results.

“The designated medical officer had visited the school on December 6 and advocated for the initiate to be hospitalised for further management.

“The initiate’s uncle [allegedly] refused to let the initiate be hospitalised. The monitoring team made a follow up visit on Thursday after being concerned about his condition in the previous visit. Family and traditional nurse were advised to transfer the initiate to hospital for admission but refused,” Ngam said.

The family finally agreed to take him to hospital after much persuasion but Ndabeni died before they could.

Ngam said a 27-year-old traditional surgeon was arrested on Friday for unlawful circumcision in the Mhlontlo municipal area. This brings the number of people arrested for illegal circumcision to three.

Cogta MEC Fikile Xasa welcomed the arrests and commended the police and the O R Tambo initiation forum.

“These arrests show our zero tolerance to those who violated, the cultural male circumcision act and abuse our children,” said Xasa.