The DA in Limpopo calls on the MEC for COGHSTA, Basikopo Makamu to ensure that all initiation schools in the province adhere to the requirements of the Customary Initiation Act and the Limpopo Initiation Schools Act, in order to intensify and increase monitoring and intervention by the CoGHSTA and Health departments.
This follows reports of 21 initiates who underwent unsafe circumcisions at registered initiation schools and needed corrective procedures. This incident follows the reported deaths of two initiates earlier in the month.
The monitoring carried out by the COGHSTA department reportedly led to identifying the two initiation schools that were experiencing challenges and health professionals identified the initiates that need corrective procedures, this highlights the need for intensified monitoring during the circumcision period to avoid these types of incidents.
The DA calls for the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) to be more stringent when approving initiation schools that apply and to ensure there are no deaths and illegal schools operating within the province. The Limpopo COGHSTA and Health Department’s need to ensure that principals of initiation schools, traditional surgeons and care-givers are trained to perform their roles and functions with regard to initiation.
The Limpopo government needs to ensure the strict adherence to regulations to ensure the safety of initiates and a safer Initiation School Season.