By: Zethu Gweva
Despite the preventative measures put in place by the government to help curb the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19), Mdantsane residents insist on building initiation schools.
According to the Buffalo City Metro Traditional Leaders Chief Whip Stanley Makinana, in Buffalo City, there should not be anyone going for traditional initiation, as the House of Traditional Leaders did not give permission to perform the traditional practice.
“Here in the Buffalo City Metro, there was no announcement made which permits people to go ahead with traditional circumcision, as we facing the Covid-19 outbreak. We are trying, by all means, to abide by the government regulations,” he said.
Makinana added that this came as a shock to them when they heard that initiation schools were active in Mdantsane.
He said the traditional surgeons should not continue performing the traditional practice as there was no consensus between the House of Traditional Leaders and the Surgeons.
“All those who have broken the law will be dealt with accordingly. The authorities will do their job to ensure that no initiation schools are operating,” he said.
The Covid-19 pandemic is deadly and it requires a lot of hygiene and at initiation schools, there’s not much hygiene.
“Yesterday, we closed a number of initiation schools in Mdantsane to prevent the spread of the virus and to follow the regulations put in place by the government,” he said.
Buffalo City Traditional Circumcision Association Chairman Andile Siko said the initiates who underwent circumcision got circumcised before the national lockdown announcement although it was during the Covid-19 outbreak.
“The people who went to be circumcised during the time of the Covid-19 outbreak, did so the legal way which is going to the clinic and receiving a letter which permits them to undergo circumcision,” said Siko.
When asked about the ones who are still undergoing the process, Siko said those who are already in the process of initiation must be given a chance to complete the process.
He added that he believes that they have isolated themselves and that will allow them to complete the initiation journey.
“We cannot take an initiate home while he is already in the process of healing, we cannot disrespect our culture. Those who are already in the process and are left with only three days to go home must be allowed to complete the process,” he said.
In addition, Siko said that forcefully taking initiates home without completing the initiation process would lead to suicide.
“I am sure we also do not want to be faced with initiates committing suicide because they did not complete their journey to manhood,” he said.