Traditional leaders are gearing up to challenge some of the “westernised” aspects of the newly gazetted Customary Initiation Act (CIT) that seeks to impose strict regulations on traditional circumcision.
The long-awaited document was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa early last week and gazetted on Friday.
Although traditional leaders have welcomed government’s intervention, which seeks to bring order and law back to the troubled custom, they, however, raised concerns over what they believe is the state taking over this rite of passage by removing powers from its custodians.
“Government’s intervention is very important because criminal elements had infiltrated this custom. However, we have reservations when the same government imposes western laws on circumcision and removing powers away from the kings, chiefs and other custodians of traditional male circumcision and to us it means that government has taken over,” said Inkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana, national chairperson of the committee on the relations and constitutional affairs in Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa.
“I have asked our members to have a look at the act and this will be followed up by a meeting to discuss it and then go to the government with proposed amendments. What we have noticed is that it gives too much power to the Cogta (cooperative governance and traditional affairs) MECs or the minister regardless of whether they themselves have gone through the initiation or not.
“That is very problematic for us because not anybody can be in charge of initiation. It will cause a major crisis,” Nonkonyana said.
Inkosi Xolile Ndevu of the National House of Traditional Leaders felt that the provincial and national structures of the CIT also excluded members of the traditional council, which includes chiefs and kings.
“The act allows members of the PICC (Provincial Initiation Coordination Committee) and the NIOC (National Initiation Oversight Committee) to elect their own chairpersons and deputy chairpersons who might not necessary be a member of any traditional council. This blatantly takes away the powers of the traditional council.
“Also, the act has reduced traditional leaders to people that only issue initiation permits. It doesn’t give them powers to sanction customary fines and punishments to those who commit violations,” said Ndevu.
According to the act, a PICC would be established within three months of the act being active and this body would work under the guidance of the MEC and the premier. They will provide administrative and financial support to PICC.
Cogta spokesperson Lungi Mtshali did not respond to questions sent to him yesterday. He did not take calls and also failed to respond to text messages.
Nonkonyana said he was concerned that initiation school principals would now be expected to provide PICC with a curriculum of teachings that the initiates would receive.
The act also discourages the use of alcohol in the mountain and imposes sanctions for those who break the Liquor Act.
“Initiation teachings are very sacred and a top secret among circumcised men. Now they want us to provide those teachings to a structure that could comprise of women.
“We live in a country that subscribes to gender equality and because of that it would be a violation to our custom to share such sensitive information with women,” said Nonkonyana.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.