By Anita Dangazele
Since the start of the winter initiation season at the end of May, a total of eight initiates have lost their lives in the Eastern Cape, six of them due to illegal circumcision.
In the past two weeks, 73 initiates, most of them underage boys who underwent the procedure without their parents’ consent, were rescued from illegal initiation schools across the province.
Chairman of the provincial initiation coordinating committee, Inkosi Gwazinamba Matanzima, said traditional leaders in the province have been working tirelessly in the fight against illegal initiation schools.
“We are working hard to ensure that we prevent any more deaths. We have been on the forefront of trying to battle as well as combat the issue, particularly around illegal initiation schools as well as bogus traditional surgeons.
“We are working closely with police. To date there have been 27 arrests made in the province as a result,” Matanzima said.
He encouraged parents to play an active role in ensuring that their children are protected.
“We are now busy trying by all means to talk to the parents to look after their kids and follow the law when they want to take their kids to initiation school,” he added.
Matanzima said parents should be aware that they are allowed to fetch their children from an initiation school if they feel that their child is not safe.
He added that there are working committees in each area where parents can verify initiation schools as well as the traditional surgeons themselves.
Pictured above: Traditional initiates.
Image Source: X
