By Anita Dangazele
- Nelson Mandela Bay says all boys must go for medical screening before initiation begins on 14 November to make sure they are fit and safe.
- Thsonono Buyeye warns no surgeon or ikhankatha may operate without legal approval as law enforcement prepares inspections across initiation sites.
Families in Nelson Mandela Bay are being told to take their boys for medical screening before the summer initiation season starts on 14 November. The checks are needed to make sure every boy is healthy and strong enough to take part.
The season opens first for boys who are out of school. Boys who are still in school will start on 21 November. Screening is required by law and both parents and the boys must agree before anything can happen.
The metro expects more than 5,000 boys to take part in traditional circumcision this year.
Public health MMC Thsonono Buyeye, who also chairs the Bay Initiation Forum, visited several initiation sites to check safety, access and essential services.
“We call on parents to ensure all prospective initiates visit health facilities for pre-medical screenings to determine any medical conditions that might affect them during their rite of passage,” Buyeye said.
He said the metro has worked for years to make initiation safer by working with families and traditional leaders. “This is why we are making this appeal once again,” he said.
Buyeye also warned that no surgeon or ikhankatha will be allowed to work without following the legal steps. It is a criminal offence to perform circumcision on a boy under 16 for non-medical or non-religious reasons.
He said law enforcement officers will carry out regular inspections at sites to protect boys and stop illegal procedures.
The department of Corporate Governance and Traditional Affairs in the province is training traditional surgeons and nurses in different towns to help prevent initiate deaths.
Pictured above: Initiates walking on a field.
Image source: Facebook
