Back to the News 2007 page.IOL.COM, South Africa, Sunday, 2 December 2007.
A traditional surgeon and a nurse were arrested on
Sunday after a youth died during
an illegal circumcision, the Eastern Cape department of health
said.
Spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said a 22-year-old
traditional surgeon and a 25-year-old nurse were
arrested and are been held at the Libode police station
in connection with the death.
They are expected to appear in the Libode magistrate's
court on Monday.
An 18-year-old youth died at an illegal initiation
school in Gxulu Village, Umtata, and six others are in
hospital.
Kupelo said: "At this stage we do not know if the boy
died from complications during the circumcision or
through natural causes."
According to the Department to Health the law states
that all initiates should go for pre-examinations at
hospitals before an initiation.
"Some of these boys are already sick and do not go for
these examinations. Due to this they have complications
and some of them die," he said.
Health officials have been deployed in the area to
find these initiation schools and spread
awareness.
Kupelo said 60 health officials have already been
deployed to find these illegal initiation
schools.
Another traditional surgeon was arrested on Thursday
for conduction illegal circumcisions.
"Ten underage boys also escaped from an initiation
school when health official arrived," he said.
The department of health, the house of traditional
leaders together with the police are embarking on a
week long monitoring campaign in the Eastern cape. -
Sapa
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