Concern over safety at initiation schools
The Education for Social Justice Foundation (ESJF) is urging parents to not send young boys to initiation schools, but rather to hospitals and clinics.
ESJF Deputy Chairperson Hendrick Makaneta says they are concerned about the safety of young men in some of the initiation schools.
"Our call comes in the wake of the initiation season where life is no longer guaranteed in the mountain schools," says Makaneta.
"The constitution of the Republic is very clear on the right to life which must be enjoyed by everyone in South Africa. We therefore want to call on government to clamp down on illegal initiation schools and close them once and for all."
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Makaneta says they can no longer sit back and watch as innocent lives are lost in the name of culture and tradition.
"What is even more distressing is the fact that parents are often informed late about the death of their loved ones in the mountain schools. Year in year out someone's child dies or is referred to a hospital due to surgeons who are incompetent," says Makaneta.
Makaneta says hospitals are a much safer option.
"We have never heard of a circumcision that went wrong in the hospital but we always hear of initiates who are referred to hospitals."