Eastern cape circumcision death toll nears 50

When is this butchery going to end? This is not culture, this is barbarism at its best!

I think the government muts either ban circumcision in the eatern cape or recruit other tribes notably the Vha-Venda to be ingcibis.We as Vha Venda do have circumcisions but mortality rates are next to none.

One should ask himself as to way we never heard of initiates death during the homeland era, its because the traditional leaders and thier headmen were given thier plantform.As long as the traditional leaders are not given thier platform by the government more is still to come.

It is sad that every six months we read about the same issue: death of initiates. Initiation should be a moment of immense pride and happiness, celebration and not the counitng of dead bodies. NO! A lot of factors contribute to these reported deaths, chief of which is that the Amapondo people aren't not clued up 100% about initiation. The forefathers never went to a proper initiation school. Now the younger generation interact with other young men at varsity that come from various parts of EC, parts in which initiation is above board. Because of the continuous taunting by the young men and being callled amakhwenkwe, they run back to their parents and plead for initation. Now owing to the fact that the parents do not know how to run the process from start to finish, problems are bound to happen. To think that these so-called fathers can kill their own is sickening. This has also become commercialised because of hunger and other. But it's downright stupid and callous to steal a kid and hurt him! Should be arrested. The fact that since this became a crime, out of 75 people arrested only five have been successfully convicted is a shame. All these should be jailed straight; no court case no bail. The process is fairly simple: A identify the traditional doctors(ingcibi) beforehand, someone with sufficient experience and expertise. they must be known to the community. B Identify the person who will take care(ikhankatha) of umkwetha(initiate). The caretaker may be a fresh young man, someone is less than seven years as a man because they still remember the process and teachings. These are still vivid in their minds. C the duties of all role players must be explained thoroughly. D the fathers and other manof the village must take part actively; visit the boys frequently to ensure that nothing is untoward. With all these in place, i am certain we will not read about these deaths. Build school, where every boy will go. Centralise this. It's a shame to amaXhosa because of a few silly and stupid individuals. This has to stop