Traditional leaders should respect the law, then traditional values and practices such as circumcision ceremonies and initiation schools will be respected by the government.

This was the view expressed by Kgoshi Setogole Frans Makgeru, chairperson of an investigating team of the House of Traditional leaders into initiation schools and circumcision practices in Limpopo.

Speaking at a media conference at the office of the premier on Tuesday, Makgeru, who is also the deputy chairperson of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders, said the House always insisted that makgoshi and traditional surgeons need to work together with government in managing and monitoring the activities of traditional circumcision ceremonies.

“Our view has always been that initiations schools and circumcision ceremonies are cultural practices which fall under the authority of makgoshi who should be in the forefront of its defense. Government, on the other hand, is expected to provide the necessary support, such as upholding of health and safety standards provided for in legislation at these schools,” said Makgeru.

According to him, Limpopo remains the first in the country to introduce legislation on the practices of traditional circumcision and thereby affirm the existence Koma as a significant traditional cultural practice amongst the people of the province.

He said, however, despite the existence of legislation, over the past few years the House of Traditional leaders has witnessed “the creeping in of negative tendencies that have served to undermine this positive practice”. Amongst these are the mushrooming scale of illegal circumcision schools in the province, botched circumcisions, cases of abduction, circumcision of young children under the age of 12 without prior knowledge and permission of their parents and commercialization of the ritual through the charging of exorbitant fees.

“Statistics show that there were 64 illegal schools in the Sekhukhune district alone last year and more illegal schools in the province last year than the past four or five years. Of particular concern is the increase in the number of deaths since 2003. The number had increased to eight in 2004 and five last year, which is still a high number by any standards,” said Makgeru.

He concluded by saying that it is in the interest of all directly affected to take collective responsibility of implementation of the Act. “This in turn will help everybody in ensuring that this century old practice of our people does not lose its essence and dignity,” said Makgeru.