The abuse that has taken place in several circumcision schools is foreign to the African culture and it needs to be dealt with soon, said the president of the Council of Traditional Healers of South Africa, Takalani Mathiba.

Mathivha said the tradition of circumcision needs to be protected as it is part of the culture. "This practice is old as our cultural institutions. What we are witnessing today is not only scary, but it is an insult to our customs and traditions as a nation," said Mathivha.

He said there is an urgent need for solutions to circumcision schools while adding that society and communities have been affected with a scourge of pseudo schools. "Our children have been killed, mutilated and maimed for life both physically and emotionally by these fly-by-night doctors. According to the norms and mores of tradition and customs, young people below the age of 30 cannot be traditional attendants. The reason being that there are taboos that have to be followed and if the person is young, it would be unusual for them to understand the importance of not doing certain things like fasting through the school session," he said.

It is also customary for circumcision attendants to be specialist and everything that has to do with the custom, for the simple reason that they would be knowledgeable in prevention, protection and healing before the school starts, during and after. They must also know what to do when something unforeseen happens.

He added that chiefs in the areas where there were problems did not understand what needed to be done. He also said that many of the schools are staged for monetary gain, while adding that traditional circumcision schools are not a yearly event.

Mathivha also said that a sound relationship between the Department of Health and traditional healers was important, in order to solve the matter.

He said it was not clear on what basis or which criteria were being used when giving out permits for staging circumcision schools.

He blamed the Minister of Health for undermining the elderly people who are knowledgeable about our tradition and customs. Only health officials who have been in circumcision schools must allowed to help as they have a clear picture of what is needed there.

He also urged attendants of circumcision schools to form associations to guard against the rogues who are maiming our children and to have disciplinary committees to deal with matters of discipline.

"If we fail in our responsibility as elders and leaders in our communities, there will be havoc. In this, we will not only have failed as leaders, but also fail our children," said Mathivha.