788 young men have lost their lives since 2006 during the rites of passage initiation process in the Eastern Cape. A further 317 boys had their private parts amputated during the same period. Yet the authorities are failing to stem the death spiral
A total of 788 young men have lost their lives since 2006 during the rites of passage initiation process in the Eastern Cape.Yet the authorities are failing to stem the death spiral.
The deaths continue despite various efforts being put in place by the government, including signing the Customary Male Initiation Practice Act into law.The act, which was considered tougher and harsher, includes a jail sentence of 25 years for anyone found guilty of breaking the rules governing initiation – but no one has been convicted under it in the province.
Medical pre-screening has been made mandatory to ensure that initiates are fit to undergo the procedure. And traditional surgeons and nurses have attended workshops. “There is nothing the government has not done. People break the laws we have put up in place. Initiates are screened prior to the procedure by doctors but nothing is changing,” Mabuyane said.
“Once the outcomes of the postmortem results confirm that the deaths have anything to do with dehydration, iingcibi and ikhankatha [traditional nurses] must be arrested and have their day in court.Last week Eastern Cape health MEC Sindiswa Gomba issued a directive that all qualified medical personnel in Bhisho should visit initiation schools to assess the conditions of initiates.
The department will supply water to all initiation schools and has urged communities to donate water.
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