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SABC should not air footage about sacred rituals

Since the beginning and ending of Dr Monwabisi Goqwana's term as MEC of health in Eastern Cape, and his subsequent Hollywood-style portrayal of young men at an initiation school, we have watched in shock and horror.

Since the beginning and ending of Dr Monwabisi Goqwana's term as MEC of health in Eastern Cape, and his subsequent Hollywood-style portrayal of young men at an initiation school, we have watched in shock and horror.

For the first time in the history of our circumcision ritual, we have seen journalists going into the bush to photograph the initiates, breaking the long-held secrecy around the tradition.

The recent SABC TV series, Phantsi Komthunzi Wentaba, took a damning and damaging approach by showing initiates in the bush and delving into what should be a private ceremony.

The SABC seems eager to undermine the values of black people, its clients.

The corporation apparently found it impossible to consult with the House of Traditional Leaders before airing the footage for public consumption.

When traditional leaders complained about the series, the SABC responded by saying its aim was to spark debate.

How do you spark debate by rubbishing a sacred ritual? Will the SABC take the same approach to Muslims, Hindus and Jews, or are there debates only about matters that affect black people?

To make matters worse, the producers of the project had not participated in the ritual themselves. How did they know they were doing the right thing and not misrepresenting certain aspects?

Bhele Langa, Mdantsane

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