The South African Police Service (SAPS) Management in the Eastern Cape has increased its resources so as to ameliorate the standard of policing in all the traditional initiation schools in the province. These efforts had so far shown some positive results, after five bogus traditional surgeons were arrested since the opening of the summer initiation season. All five men aged between 23 and 35 are still in custody. A total of eight criminal cases are being investigated thus far.
In all the eight Districts, there are task teams comprising of members from Visible Policing, Detectives, and other stakeholders ranging from the Department of Health, COGTA, and NGOs. The teams are visible in all the initiation schools and are monitoring compliance with the relevant prescripts and laws pertaining to traditional male circumcision.
Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene said, “We are warning parents that these laws are also compelling them to be involved during the process of initiation. Non-compliance could lead to prosecution”, added Lt Gen Mene
