Are these initiation deaths avoidable?
Yes, they are avoidable.
So why do they happen year after year?
Because of the conditions of the bodies of the initiates. Most of the initiates who die have not gone through screening.
So why are they being accepted for initiation?
It's basically the illegal schools that accept them.
How many illegal schools are there?
That's something you can never know. They operate like thieves because they don't ask for permission from anybody. You only find out about them when there's a problem.
Is this why they're proliferating?
It's difficult to say why. But you can say the reason they are there is because people see money in this [initiation] thing. And also it's the parents who condone them.
Are you saying rogue elements have hijacked the initiation ritual?
Yes, I could say rogue elements are sort of trying to hijack the ritual. But the bottom line is it is the parents who don't take responsibility for their children, whose initiation is supposed to be sanctioned by the parents.
Isn't it your responsibility as traditional leaders to monitor initiation schools more closely?
That is why you hear these reports that there has been a death at such and such a place. They are coming from the monitoring teams. So it's not that there is no monitoring. Every measure is taken to curb these deaths. But if parents don't take responsibility it's going to continue.
What measures have you taken?
One measure we've put in place is that all would-be initiates must go for screening first. The parents must have papers showing approval by the traditional leader, by the doctor, by the parent. The traditional nurse must be an approved traditional nurse, it must be an approved initiation school.
Is it fair to say that in spite of these measures the majority of initiation schools are not approved, they're illegal?
No, not in all areas, in some areas.
Surely a large number given that a record 40 initiates died in last year's summer initiation season?
Yes.
So in spite of all the measures you say you take the number of deaths and maimings is growing?
I'm not sure about the maimings.
Every year there are reports of maimings because of bush circumcisions. Isn't it time to end them?
No, ending traditional initiation is not even up for discussion.
Not the whole ritual, just have the circumcision done in a clinic or hospital?
Circumcision is not the issue. The issue is the management in the circumcision school after the person has been circumcised. It's not the circumcision, it's the way they're treated in the circumcision school. That's a different story. When the boys get beaten and all that.
To what extent have you surrendered your authority over this ritual to the charlatans who run bogus schools?
We have not surrendered any authority. Legislation caused us to lose the authority we had. Before this these things didn't happen, because traditional leaders were able to make people in their communities accountable for their ill actions.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.