A bush doctor circumcises Msimbithi

January 16, 2000
Web posted at: 1:03 p.m. EST (1803 GMT)

In this story: Some boys die from complications Circumcision free in local hospital RELATED STORIES, SITES

KWAMAGXAKI, South Africa (CNN) -- A rite of passage from boyhood to manhood in South Africa is having disastrous consequences for some boys.

VIDEO CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault shows how traditional rituals in South Africa for entering manhood have resulted in infection and even death for some boys. Windows Media 28K 80K     MESSAGE BOARD South Africa

As the new millennium starts, some Xhosa people are determined to preserve old cultural traditions. One is the ritualistic circumcision of teen-age boys, even though infection and even death are sometimes the results of the painful procedure.

Circumcision of teen-agers goes back for generations in Kwamagxaki, South Africa. Boys like Msimbithi Mahamba undergo elaborate preparations for the rite of passage to manhood.

"I feel as if I was born for this moment," said Msimbithi as he prepared for the ceremony, introduced by Xhosa chiefs over 100 years ago.

Msimbithi and his father chat after the ceremony

The circumcision rite begins with a three-week period of seclusion. Then community leaders and peers join the initiate at a chosen location to perform the operation.

"I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't scared," Msimbithi admitted.

The ceremony was brief and Msimbithi appeared to bear his pain like a man, as his elders intended. Later, back at his home, there was dancing and celebration as he was welcomed by his grandmother, his mother and the other women who were not allowed to join him in the bush.

Some boys die from complications

For some boys, the rite of passage has been disastrous.

Two boys died from complications in a hospital in Sebokeng, a town near Johannesburg. More than 50 boys in the same hospital are being treated for complications and infections from the circumcision.

Two boys say they were whipped with a stick for not singing during the initiation. Another died from renal failure, doctors say, caused by the beating. Another boy is in danger of losing his penis, as others already have.

Some say veteran bush doctors have caused infections by using the same knife on several initiates. Others say that newcomers who are not properly trained to perform the procedures are to blame.

Some boys have developed infections from the procedure

Msimbithi's father is concerned about the reports of deaths and injuries, but he wants to maintain the values of his local culture and he is proud of his son.

Circumcision free in local hospital

In response to the growing problems, police are investigating some of the incidents and have urged assault victims to come forward. Doctors are calling for better training of those who carry out the procedure, and the government will now provide circumcision in the hospital, free of charge.

"As long as we are all products of tradition and culture, we wouldn't say this is to be stopped, but maybe it is possible for the people involved in this, for the government to put up a policy where these people will be trained to perform these procedures," Dr. Kayode Ojo, superintendent of Sebokeng Hospital, said.

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