Health officials in the Eastern Cape are still searching for 19 boys believed to be at an illegal initiation school in the bush near Flagstaff, said a spokesperson for the provincial department of health on Monday.
Sizwe Kupelo told the Mail & Guardian Online that the provincial minister for health, Monwabisi Goqwana, visited the area where the search was taking place on Monday.
“The unlawful circumcision is a problem in this province. Seven illegal initiation schools [from towns such as Alice, Mthatha, East London and Flagstaff] have been closed down during the past week,” said Kupelo.
He added that “there is an improvement [in the number of circumcision deaths] because the department of health and the police are enforcing the law”.
“We’re saving lives because of the intervention.”
Kupelo claims the department of health has “rescued” 5 000 boys who have been involved in illegal circumcisions since June this year. Of these, 260 were taken to hospitals, he added.
According to a report published on the department’s website, 243 deaths and 216 genital amputations from circumcision were recorded between 1995 and 2004. This year, 20 deaths and five genital amputations have been recorded.
The report states that botched circumcisions have “far-reaching” psychological impacts.
“[Victims of botched circumcisions] can no longer enjoy a normal life, as they have been robbed of their manhood. He can no longer be able to have children of his own, the family name, down the line may cease to exist,” it stated.
Boys who lose their manhood because of severe infections after being circumcised undergo counselling with the department of health, said Kupelo.
“We give them psychological treatment. They’re not dying because of the custom. There are people who are not qualified [to perform a circumcision] and see this as an opportunity to make quick bucks.”
Kupelo told the South African Press Association (Sapa) that one boy died and eight others were admitted to Mthatha general hospital on Sunday after they fell ill at another circumcision school in the area.
“When we got there [at the school] on Sunday night, one of the boys had already died. Two are in a critical condition [in hospital] and the others are stable,” he said. They are aged between 18 and 20.
Health department officials went to investigate the school at Link village on Sunday, outside Mthatha after being informed by community members of possible problems.
“It’s a legal school. The man in charge is registered, but failed to report on time that the boys were sick. There is a possibility that he will be charged with negligence,” Kupelo said.
Police have opened an inquest docket. It was the first death since the start of the circumcision season two weeks ago.
The department appealed to community members to take responsibility for the schools in their area and report problems.
“We want it to be a communal thing. During the June/July season, 23 boys died in the bush,” Kupelo told Sapa.
About half those deaths were in the Libode area, east of Mthatha.
Of the 23 who died, 15 succumbed to illnesses such as meningitis and pneumonia. At least five boys had their genitals amputated following botched circumcisions.
Kupelo said boys going to circumcision schools need to be sent for medical check-ups to make sure they are in good health before undergoing the ritual.
“They are exposed to bad weather conditions and to dehydration. According to the traditional way, the boys are denied water for the first eight days. If they are not healthy enough, there is definitely a risk.”
Those in the province requiring assistance or wanting to report illegal schools can call the circumcision health line on Tel: 08000 32364.
Circumcision is a traditional ritual performed mainly by Xhosa people where the foreskin of the penis is removed.