Initiates’ ages ‘are being faked’
Circumcision deaths already at 21 this season
As the initiation death toll in the Eastern Cape has increased to 21, the provincial government has established that some medical doctors are working with parents to fraudulently sign documents declaring unfit and underage boys as older than 18, the age when they are allowed to undergo traditional initiation rites.
Some of the boys have chronic ailments and some are as young as 16, according to cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Xolile Nqatha.
The disturbing trend has been picked up in the Chris Hani district.
On Sunday, Nqatha also confirmed the initiation death toll now stood at 21. This is only one fewer than the total number of deaths that occurred in the entire 2018 summer initiation season.
“This is worrying and saddening that the number of initiation deaths has now increased to 21 and we just pray that there are no more deaths now,” Nqatha said.
He said during an outreach programme in the Chris Hani district last week he was shocked to learn that some unscrupulous medical doctors were increasing the ages of young boys on documentation.
“They are acting illegally, assisting parents and boys by having their ages increased. In some cases, it was established that doctors registered some boys as 18 when they were only 16.
“They are also assisting parents to cheat the medical screening, where the results of an older boy are used for a younger boy who was not seen by doctors,” he said
Nqatha said these illegal activities were exacerbating the initiation crisis.
“The unprofessional and unethical conduct of these doctors will be reported to the medical council and the association of doctors. Not all doctors act unethically and those who do act professionally must help us deal with the rot.”
So far he had come across the trend only in Chris Hani, he said.
Most of the initiates had died of dehydration and were underage.
“The problem here is not medical. It is just neglect and illtreatment of initiates by traditional surgeons and traditional nurses,” he said.
“This is caused mostly by parents who are not playing their part, as well as negligent traditional initiation practitioners.
“Depriving initiates of water is criminal and people must be arrested. Parents should always ensure that initiates drink water.”
Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize and Cogta deputy minister Obed Bapela are to visit the Eastern Cape on Tuesday and premier Oscar Mabuyane will do the rounds on Wednesday.
Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba said doctors and nurses wanted to assist in curbing the crisis.
“They want to see it themselves and assist where they can. They will be visiting the hotspot areas which include Chris Hani district,” Nqatha said.
The Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders’ Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana said the circumcision of underage boys remained a serious cause for concern throughout the seasons.
“We have done everything humanly possible, but just in the middle of the season we already have 21 deaths.
“This is catastrophic and we are heading for the worst disaster. Parents are colluding with the unscrupulous traditional initiation practitioners to undermine the law and the rite,” he said.
Nonkonyana said he was shocked to learn that in one case in Nyandeni in Libode, a 16-year-old boy had circumcised another boy of 14.
“He [the 16-year-old] has been arrested. This shows how glaring the issues are we are dealing with.
“The 16-year-old himself was too young to have undergone the rite, but we are told he was circumcised the previous year.” ● See our insight on page 13
In some cases it was established that doctors registered some boys as 18 when they were only 16