Gearing up for initiation season

In preparation for an initiation season likely to involve more than 40,000 South African boys, the Eastern Cape Province’s legislature passed a law to make traditional circumcision safer, Dispatch Live reports. Under the new Cultural Male Circumcision bill, which is expected to be signed during the season, only boys ages 18 and older may participate in the initiation rite. The provincial government sponsored a month-long awareness campaign leading up to the season, and in each district doctors, other health practitioners, police officers, nongovernmental organization personnel, and traditional leaders are joining forces to monitor initiation schools. During last year’s season, 46 initiates died. A national toll-free number, 0800-66-11, is available for reporting abuse or other problems related to initiation rites (Dispatch Live, 24 November 2016).