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An initiation school in Limpopo has been shut down following injuries sustained by 200 initiates in what is believed to be a botched circumcision related incident.
Hitekani Magwedze, spokesperson for that province’s Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Basikopo Makamu, told City Press on Wednesday that a traditional surgeon at an initiation school in Phalaborwa agreed to close down the school following Makamu’s unannounced visit on Monday.
READ: Illegal initiation schools mushroom in Eastern Cape
This comes after the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL) announced on Monday that the injuries suffered by the initiates, which were not detailed, were a great tragedy.
Magwedze said they were made aware of the incident and that Makawu and Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba intervened to ensure that the initiates were sent to the hospital to get the help needed.
It remained unclear what kind of injuries were sustained by the initiates.
Neither did Magwedze nor Ramathuba’s department responded to questions about the injuries sustained by the initiates at the time of writing.
READ: Modidima Mannya | Why shouldn’t Phophi Ramathuba uphold the laws of the land?
In a similar incident, Makamu’s department suspended caregivers and closed down an initiation school in the Mopani District Municipality in June following the death of a minor.
In that incident, Makamu’s department indicated that the deceased was a six year old and had been diagnosed with epilepsy when he was admitted at the school with his parents’ consent.
READ: Eastern Cape is reviewing Customary Initiation Bill to curb deaths
Makamu’s department said the parent and the deceased had contravened section 12(1) of the Limpopo Initiation Schools Act 2016, which stated that no person below the age of 12 was allowed to undergo initiation at the school. The case was handed over to Kgapane police station for investigation.
What has been done
Magwedze said Makamu has been embarking on unannounced visits to initiation schools which had been granted permission to operate.
During his visit at the initiation school in Phalaborwa, Magwedze said Makamu was accompanied by two initiation season advisors:
“The traditional surgeon did not disagree with the decision and closed the school. Had he disagreed, the department would have taken the option of going to the courts to ensure that the closure was enforced,” Magwedze said.
READ: Father calls for more men to oversee initiation
He said a lot was being done to enforce compliance of the law and to the act to ensure that schools complied during the season.
At the beginning of the initiation season, Makamu had called on parents, surgeons and traditional leaders to comply with the law.
“During the induction of the newly constituted Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders, the MEC reiterated this call to make sure that senior traditional leaders play their part to ensure that there’s compliance with the law,” he said.
‘We’ll investigate’
CRL spokesperson Mpiyakhe Mkholo said they were concerned that the cultural practice of initiation – which was established as a rite of passage of young men to adulthood as well as to help inculcate the values of Ubuntu, respect, humility, hard work, defence of the community and family – appears to be abused by others in communities.
“The Commission has observed with concern that in given instances this cultural practice of initiation robs families and communities of young people who either die or suffer genital amputation.
“In many instances, these tragedies occur due to non-compliance of rules and standards set out by the CRL Rights Commission as well as by other government departments,” Mkholo said.
Pursuant to its mandate, he said they would deploying a team to meet with the parents and community stakeholders in Phalaborwa on Wednesday to investigate this matter.
CRL chairperson Professor David Luka Mosoma, Mkholo said was in Phalaborwa on Wednesday where he met with community representatives, parents and other stakeholders.
