Hurt boys ‘may be shunned’
The mother of one of two minor boys illegally circumcised, allegedly as punishment by Lonwabo “Rasta” Zele for stealing dagga from his garden, fears the boys will be isolated and osracised as a result of the mutilation.
In an interview shortly after Seymour magistrate Lionel Alexander postponed the case to February 26, the mom of the 12-year-old said she was scared that when the boys returned to school, they would have a tough time. “There is also an uncertainty as to whether they will remain with other boys or be classified as men.
“I think their peers will ostracise them. But also other men who underwent circumcision the right way by going to the mountain may not recognise the boys as real men because they were treated in hospital. This is painful,” she said.
While the mother said she was happy with the recovery of the boys in hospital, she said they were emotionally scarred.
“They need counselling, they are traumatised,” she said.
The boys, aged 12 and 13, were rushed to Fort Beaufort hospital on January 25 with wounded genitals.
Zele, 30, was arrested a day later at his Balfour home.
Wednesday’s postponement was the second this week after Alexander postponed the case on Monday for Zele to acquire an attorney.
“The case is postponed to February 26 for a formal bail application by agreement reached between the attorney and the state.
“You are remanded in custody,” said Alexander. A short 10-minute adjournment was held at the court for Legal Aid SA attorney Mzamo Nkibi to consult with Zele. When Nkibi asked his new client what he had been arrested for, he could not believe his ears, remarking loudly: “Yhoo.”
According to the charge sheet, Zele faces two counts of attempted murder, contravention of the traditional circumcision act and two counts of kidnapping. Eastern Cape provincial health spokesperson Lwandile Sicwetsha said: “The doctors have done a very good job in stabilising the boys.
“They were in a very bad condition when they were admitted to our hospital.”
Sicwetsha said it was still unclear when the boys would be discharged.
Police spokesperson Captain Khaya Tonjeni said the accused used a sharp object to cut the boys.
Eastern Cape co-operative governance & traditional affairs spokesperson Mamkeli Ngam was scathing.
“The accused has taken away the dignity and childhood of the boys. He abused the children physically, emotionally and mentally.”
He called on the court to hand down a harsh punishment if the man is found guilty to send a strong message to criminals.