Traditional leaders challenge new ‘Westernised’ initiation
‘State taking over rite of passage powers’
Traditional leaders are gearing up to challenge some of the “Westernised” aspects of the newly gazetted Customary Initiation Act (CIT) that imposes strict regulations on traditional circumcision.
The long-awaited document was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week and gazetted on Friday.
Although traditional leaders have welcomed government’s intervention, to bring order and law back to the troubled custom, they raised concerns over what they believe is the state taking over this rite of passage.
“Government’s intervention is very important because criminal elements had infiltrated this custom. However, we have reservations when the same government imposes Western laws on circumcision and removing powers away from the kings, chiefs and other custodians of traditional male circumcision and to us it means that government has taken over,” said Inkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana, national chairperson of the committee on the relations and constitutional affairs in Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa.
“I have asked our members to have a look at the act and this will be followed up by a meeting to discuss it and then go to the government with proposed amendments. What we have noticed is that it gives too much power to the Cogta (cooperative governance and traditional affairs) MECs or the minister regardless of whether they themselves have gone through the initiation or not.
“That is very problematic for us because not anybody can be in charge of initiation. It will cause a major crisis.”
Inkosi Xolile Ndevu of the National House of Traditional Leaders felt the provincial and national structures of the CIT also excluded members of the traditional council, which includes chiefs and kings.
“The act allows members of the PICC [provincial initiation coordination committee] and the NIOC [national initiation oversight committee] to elect their own chairpersons and deputy chairpersons who might not necessarily be a member of any traditional council. This blatantly takes away the powers of the traditional council,” said Ndevu.
“Also, the act has reduced traditional leaders to people that only issue initiation permits. It doesn’t give them powers to sanction customary fines and punishments to those who commit violations.”
According to the act, a PICC would be established within three months and this body would work under the guidance of the MEC and the premier. Cogta spokesperson Lungi Mtshali did not respond to questions sent yesterday.
Nonkonyana said he was concerned initiation school principals would now be expected to provide the PICC with a curriculum of teachings initiates would receive.
The act also discourages the use of alcohol in the mountain.
“Initiation teachings are very sacred and a top secret among circumcised men. Now they want us to provide those teachings to a structure that could comprise of women.
“We live in a country that subscribes to gender equality and … it would be a violation to our custom to share sensitive information with women.”