Death of circumcision initiates blamed on opportunists

May 24, 2004, 10:26

Inkosi Mpiyezintombi Mzimela, the chairperson of the national house of traditional leaders, says the increasing number of deaths of young boys from circumcision is largely due to the custom being performed by opportunists. He says they do not have the traditional skills.

The house and its partners are holding a two-day conference from today on deaths at initiation schools. Mzimela says the custom has been commercialised by opportunists who have hijacked it from traditional leaders.

He says to stop the deaths, traditional ways must be amalgamated with modern ways to prevent infection and death.