the Initiation Schools Health Act Summit held at the Protea Hotel Black
Mountain
20 July 2006
Programme Director,
Mr Rakometsi and Mr Nthunya,
Mr Stander,
Morena Tsotetsi,
Professor Wentzel,
Captain Mosikili and Captain Phiri,
Ladies and gentlemen:
I am privileged to join such an esteemed group of speakers here today as
well as representatives from various stakeholders. Afford me the opportunity to
express my satisfaction with the representation here today. We have delegates
representing governance structures of the Department, representatives of the
district traditional healers committees, officers representing a various health
programs of the Free State Department of Health, Department of Education, South
African Police Services (SAPS) amongst others. I am also particularly pleased
with the representation of the House of Traditional Healers (HOTH). I
specifically want to acknowledge the presence of my colleagues in the Executive
Council (ExCo), Mr Morule and Mr Mafereka.
Ladies and gentlemen, the matter of initiation schools is one of the issues
that have presented us with enormous challenges. Stories and reports of the
horrendous malpractices often resulting in the physical, emotional and
psychological debilitation and even deaths of young men in these schools are
well known and recorded in the media. The Free State Initiations Schools Health
Act, Act 1 of 2004 was promulgated in 2004 with the specific purpose to provide
for the adherence to health standards in traditional initiation schools as well
as to provide for the granting of permission for the performance of
circumcision operations. The Act also makes provision of the approval process
by which initiation schools are to be established.
Today I want to highlight the important role the Department of Health has in
protecting the well-being of the citizens of the Free State especially the
well-being of our initiates. For many young men entering into initiation
schools signifies a life changing experience, a passage into manhood which goes
beyond the physical challenges being faced during the period.
Program Director, I have the greatest respect for those initiates who endure
the challenges set by attending an initiation school. I want, however, to make
it very clear that one of these challenges should not be concerns about their
physical health. This is one of the reasons why the Department has started on
the process of implementing the Initiation Schools Health Act.
I want to make it very clear that I have the greatest respect for cultural
practices but when things or behaviours put the lives of people at risk, as MEC
of Health I have the responsibility to intervene. As MEC of Health, my
responsibilities within the Act are to prescribe procedures to:
* getting permission to hold an initiation school or treat initiatives
* request consent by parents
* determine legal age for initiates in relation to other applicable laws and
the Constitution of the country
* determine restrictions of persons to treat an initiate
* the granting of permission to perform circumcisions
* set out powers and functions of the different responsible persons
* determine applicable penalty for transgressors in consultation with other law
enforcement agencies. Circumstances dictated that the processes should be
regulated by law.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is our duty to protect the health of the initiate
and I appeal on all advocates to assist communities to deal with the health
issues surrounding initiations schools. My mission is to align the
implementation of the Act with all applicable laws and working closely with law
enforcement agencies, municipal structures, traditional leadership and
communities at all levels.
Finally, the speakers before me highlighted a variety of issues which should
prepare us to constructively participate in the deliberations hereafter. I
appeal to all to assist the Department to ensure the effective implementation
of the Initiation Schools Health Act.
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
20 July 2006
