Hon Speaker, I just want to convey appreciation for the manner in which we are approaching the debate. We are giving it the dignity and the respect it deserves. Allow me to just respond to some of the issues that Members of Parliament have raised during this debate.
The hon Boinamo raised the issue of establishing a commission of inquiry. As the ANC, we totally disagree with that. There are already investigations in place. Therefore, we cannot establish a commission of inquiry whilst there are investigations taking place. Let's wait for the outcome of the investigations; thereafter, we will talk more. Let's allow the process to go further.
Also as the ANC, instead of coming up with a commission of inquiry we have proposed that we come up with an indaba - which has already been scheduled by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs for next week Friday - where all stakeholders will get together and discuss these issues and try to reach common ground about how we are are going to address all these challenges.
The hon Mluleki George raised the issue that we must stop initiation processes in areas where these incidents are occurring. But I suggest that he must not paint all the initiation schools with the same brush, because there are good schools that are doing these rituals excellently and producing men out there. Let us come up with other solutions and not just intrude on other people's cultures by saying they must be stopped.
The hon Mluleki George also... I don't know if I should continue because he is not here. [Interjections.] He raised the issue that the Mpondo people stopped other people. I just want to put on record that the Mpondo people are practising the circumcision ritual. I would like to urge the hon member not to promote tribalism at this podium. Let's take the debate very seriously. The hon Meshoe said no arrests have been made thus far, but I would like the hon member to just hold his horses a little bit and allow the process to continue, then we will see the results. All of us want to see the law taking its course.
On behalf of the ANC, Speaker, allow me to extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the 29 initiates who died during initiation in the Nkangala region in Mpumalanga, as well as the 6 initiates who died in the Sekhukhune region in North West. [Interjections.] I said 29.
It is indeed very sad that these initiates died whilst undergoing the transition to manhood. This should have been a joyous moment for them and their families. Our prayers and thoughts are with the families during this difficult period. The ANC has called for this debate to show our people that we lead and we care.
I-ANC futhi ifuna abantu bazi ukuthi yini imbangela yakho konke lokhu. Sifuna abantu baseNingizimu Afrika bazi ukuthi uKhongolose unalezi zinhlelo ukuze zingenelele kulolu daba ukuze ekupheleni kwakho konke siqinisekise ukuthi lesi sehlakalo asiphindi senzeke.
Kusukela endulo, leli siko lokusoka belenziwa, lapho ngiyavumelana nezikhulumi ezikhulume ngaphambi kwami. Bekwenziwa, kodwa nakhona izehlakalo ezifana nalezi bezenzeka. Ngalezo zikhathi inhlekelele efana nale beyifihlwa. Wawuthola ukuthi bayashona abasokwa kodwa abantu besifazane bangatshelwa nakutshelwa ukuthi izingane zabo zishonile.
SiwuKhongolose sithi asilethe lolu hlelo, siliguqule leli siko ngokuthi abantu besifazane baziswe uma ingane isivelelwa wumshophi wokungasabuyeli ekhaya. Phela lezi zingane zizalwe yibo onina. Ngakho-ke mabaziswe ukuthi kwenzekeni. Kuhlolwe nembangela yokufa ... ukuthi sazi ukuthi yini imbangela yokufa kwabasokwa. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[The ANC also wants people to know what is the cause of all this. We want the people of South Africa to know that the ANC has programmes to intervene in this matter so that at the end of the day we can ensure that such an incident does not occur again.
The custom of circumcision has been practised since time immemorial, and I agree with speakers who spoke before me on that note. It was practised, and incidents like these were also happening. In those days incidents like these were kept a secret. Initiates died, but women were never told that their children had died.
We want to launch this programme as the ANC, in order to change this custom by saying that women must be told when their children become victims of this tragedy of not returning home alive. After all, they are the ones who gave birth to these children. Therefore, they must be told about what has happened. The causes of death should also be investigated so that we can know what caused the deaths of the initiates.]
I just want to highlight a few things that happened in Limpopo in 2002. In Limpopo province, they rescued 630 initiates from bogus initiation schools. The then MEC, Mrs Catherine Mabuza, under Premier Ramathlodi, managed to rescue these initiates. Some were as young as eight years old.
The then MEC, accompanied by the police, managed to close down six such schools in Mokopane in the Waterberg District. In the very same province, 300 initiates were rescued and transferred to nearby hospitals in the Vhembe District. I am telling you this to highlight that every time incidences like these happen, the ANC, led by its stewards, intervenes. [Interjections.]
Yes, it was in 2002. I am highlighting that these issues are not new. Interventions were there even then. [Interjections.] I just want to briefly highlight the processes that the ANC is conducting.
On 28 April 2013 in Mpumalanga, a workshop was conducted for the establishment of the Ingoma Forum. This forum was formed to ensure that traditional surgeons are competent and therefore perform the ritual with the dignity it deserves, thereby avoiding the health hazards that are currently encountered.
These interventions also include teams that provide assistance in terms of preparing the boys mentally. Also, as the ANC, we are urging that these boys must be screened to determine whether they are fit to undergo the ritual. They must be tested for HIV and Aids and also be screened for STIs, glucose, TB and other health-related problems before being initiated.
Because I'm left with only two minutes now, I would like to conclude by saying that the ANC condemns all fly-by-night initiation schools. We are urging them to go and register, and to take part in the government programmes that are provided. These programmes are so useful because they cover the use of aseptic techniques, how to manage and control bleeding, wound management, treatment compliance and dehydration control.
As a long-term intervention in Mpumalanga, the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs is finalising the Ingoma Bill. The Bill will regulate the holding of Ingoma Forum processes so that it prohibits forcing attendance and provides for health and hygienic standards at the Ingoma Forum, and all matters incidental thereto.
The ANC will continue to uphold and respect all the different cultures and traditions that we have in this country. I would also like to appeal to all citizens and to all parties in this House to respect and debate this issue with the dignity it deserves. Let us all allow the police to conduct their investigations thoroughly, and all those found in the wrong will face the law. I trust and believe that at the end of the investigations we will get the answers we are looking for. Once again, my heart goes out to all those who lost their loved ones under these circumstances.