Plan to eradicate initiation deaths

[LazyLion]

A "radical" plan will be introduced to curb deaths at initiation schools in South Africa, the Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA (Contralesa) said on Wednesday.

Contralesa would unveil a systematic "death-free plan" which would be in line with its August 2013 declaration of zero deaths at initiation schools.

"The plan forms part of the radical steps that are urgently needed to end the avoidable deaths and mutilations that accompany the ritual of traditional initiation of young boys into manhood," Contralesa president Kgoshi Setlamorago Thobejane said in a statement.

The aim was to restore the ritual to its traditional values and ensure that young men were educated about values, human rights, family responsibilities, respect, and confront societal ills.

Contralesa could not continue to be part of cultural practices that killed people.

"The new systematic death-free plan is not aimed at reducing deaths but totally bring to an end the deaths of our initiates. Death-free initiation schools is non-negotiable," said Thobejane.


Source : Sapa /kn/jk/jje
Date : 28 May 2014 09:07

 

[Lupus]

Okay it might sound nasty, but wouldn't it be easier to perhaps do this a little more clinical? By having your initiation ceremony handled by a trained professional not someone who throws bones for a living?

 

[Dlamaqhinga]

Okay it might sound nasty, but wouldn't it be easier to perhaps do this a little more clinical? By having your initiation ceremony handled by a trained professional not someone who throws bones for a living?

Who said its done by people who throw bones? the biggest problem of initiation deaths is not botched circumcisions but after care and abuse during the initiate stay in the mountain.

 

[ShaunSA]

And the chances of success of this "radical" "death free" plan are what exactly?

 

[R13...]

And the chances of success of this "radical" "death free" plan are what exactly?

100%. Contralesa will simply claim that all deaths are from "schools" not affiliated with them.

 

[Compton_effect]

The plan has flaws, but have the army handle the initiation schools, with a certified person doing the snip.

A week or so in the bush with a few instructors running them though all the rituals of manhood as well as some serious vasbyt, followed by a night in the bush in traditional garb, and the next morning have the village elders oversee the circumcision by a trained medic. and then some more vasbyt. And yes - on the government's bill. Its cheaper than the other option - in the long run. Plus if done right you might end up with a few new and suitably motivated recruits.

 

[Rickster]

Ban initiation maybe?

 

[Mr_M]

Ban initiation.

 

[ponder]

Neither are gonna happen. Initiations will continue and people will die, simple as that.

 

[dlk001]

And the chances of success of this "radical" "death free" plan are what exactly?

Without details we cannot say much about this plan.

I have witnessed a plan that worked when my brothers went for initiation. Mandatory medical check up, consent from parents, experienced surgeon and nurse. However, this requires discipline, commitment from everyone. Not always easy to apply everywhere.

I remember driving around last moments looking for a misplaced doctor's medical certificate because the surgeon refused to perform circumcision without it.

 

[R13...]

Without details we cannot say much about this plan.

I have witnessed a plan that worked when my brothers went for initiation. Mandatory medical check up, consent from parents, experienced surgeon and nurse. However, this requires discipline, commitment from everyone. Not always easy to apply everywhere.

I remember driving around last moments looking for a misplaced doctor's medical certificate because the surgeon refused to perform circumcision without it.

The problem is that the schools that have the deaths aren't those that follow such rules. Take Limpopo (the far north), they don't have pre-medicals but hardly anyone dies while the EC and recently MP the boys die. And then you have those EC hooligans who export the practice to informal settlements of GP and do botch up jobs.

 

[dlk001]

The problem is that the schools that have the deaths aren't those that follow such rules. Take Limpopo (the far north), they don't have pre-medicals but hardly anyone dies while the EC and recently MP the boys die. And then you have those EC hooligans who export the practice to informal settlements of GP and do botch up jobs.

True that's why I'm interested to see this radial plan. It requires discipline and accountability. If it does not incorporate that, then nothing will change. The thought of dying/complications was not even on our minds during our time.

Circumcision/healing used to be a straight forward procedure and the rest of the time I spent in the mountains was educational and fun. However these days a lot has change. The process requires radical changes.