Bogus surgeons held for 12 circumcisions

Four bogus traditional surgeons, including two teenagers, have been arrested at Ngqeleni near Mthatha for performing unlawful circumcisions on 12 boys under the age of 16.

The 2020 winter circumcision is suspended due to the Covid19 pandemic, making any initiation rites taking place at this time illegal.

Since the national lockdown began on March 27, 50 boys in the province have been illegally circumcised. Twenty bogus surgeons have been arrested.

Contralesa provincial secretary Nkosi Mkhanyiseli Dudumayo, who is also the OR Tambo traditional initiation forum chair, said the four charlatans were arrested at Ntsonyeni and Nohokwan villages in Ngqeleni on Tuesday.

“The victims are very young, with ages between 14 and 16. Those arrested are also young — between 18 and 21. These four were operating as a syndicate and moving from village to village performing illegal circumcisions,” Dudumayo said.

“These illegal activities are an insult to the custom of ulwalulo, undermining the authority of the president and traditional leaders and disregarding human life.”

Dudumayo said small teams comprising police, traditional leaders and municipal councillors were undertaking raids in the OR Tambo district to root out the illegal practitioners.

Dudumayo said the four arrested youths were known for performing circumcisions in the area.

“They have done it before and circumcised other young boys last year. Some of their victims are even older than them,” said Dudumayo.

Dudumayo said the four were not running an initiation school. Instead they allegedly just performed the rite in forests or open fields.

“We found all 12 victims and handed them over to their parents. The initiates showed no signs of circumcision complications, which is why we did not take them to hospital. The four are charged with contravening the Disaster Management Act.”

Dudumayo said while there were “three or four incidents” of illegal circumcision in Amathole and BCM, it was OR Tambo, particularly Ngqeleni, that presented the biggest problem.

BCM initiation forum chair Nkosi Stanley Makinana said 14 initiation lodges were dismantled in March.