The mutilation and deaths of young South Africans in manhood rituals require urgent intervention, Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said on Wednesday.
"The guardians of South African health and culture must find the means to work together to protect the sanctity of our traditional practices," Tutu said in a statement.
He said the cultural importance of manhood initiation ritual should not be lost.
"We must protect these practices, but we must avoid placing too much focus on the physical and psychological ordeal."
He said the house of traditional leaders and the department of health should draw qualified medical practitioners to enhance traditional circumcision practices.
According to local government and traditional affairs MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, 39 initiates have died in the Eastern Cape since the start of the summer initiation season.
Intervene to stop initiation problems: Tutu
The mutilation and deaths of young South Africans in manhood rituals require urgent intervention, Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said on Wednesday.
"The guardians of South African health and culture must find the means to work together to protect the sanctity of our traditional practices," Tutu said in a statement.
He said the cultural importance of manhood initiation ritual should not be lost.
"We must protect these practices, but we must avoid placing too much focus on the physical and psychological ordeal."
He said the house of traditional leaders and the department of health should draw qualified medical practitioners to enhance traditional circumcision practices.
According to local government and traditional affairs MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, 39 initiates have died in the Eastern Cape since the start of the summer initiation season.
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