Bush Surgeon Released On Bail

Eastern Province Herald (Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa), Page 8. Thursday, 1 August 1996.

Circumciser charged with murder in death of victims

UMTATA - A traditional circumcision surgeon, Siyavuya Mbalo, 37, alias Vo appeared briefly in a Lusikisiki magistrate's court yesterday on charges related to the death of initiates in the bush.

He was charged with two counts of murder.

Mr Mbalo was not asked to plead and no evidence was led. Her was not defended. The trial was postponed to August 8 and he was granted bail of R1000.

Police have reported that five abakwetha died and about 60 suffered organ mutilations with eight of them having to undergo genital amputations.

Mr Mbalo was arrested on Monday night.

Kokstad regional health director Chauke Tyekela said 62 initiates had been admitted to St Elizabeth Hospital in Lusikisiki in the first two weeks of July.

A further 23 initiates have been admitted to the Mary Theresa Hospital in Mount Frere and five to St Patrick's Hospital in Bizana. -Ecna

Note:

Abakwetha is Xhosa for initiates, i.e. from after circumcision till the re-emergence into society.

Citation:

Bush Surgeon Released On Bail. East Province Herald (Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa). 1996-08-01: 8.

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