Illegal initiation schools in Eastern Cape ‘outnumber legal ones’

Speaking of the illegal school in Nyandeni, Xasa said when the committee arrived the traditional surgeon had run away.“We can’t find him. Only [some of] the boys [were there]. He ran away and some boys did too. What we have seen with these boys is that there have been challenges [or issues] with the circumcision [sites] … We are accompanied by doctors and they are dealing with them and assessing [the sites].” He said they expected that the provincial initiation co-ordination committee of the Eastern Cape should carry out what is prescribed in the act, “which is to close illegal schools but to follow the proper process to do so”.“If there are any boys seriously under threat then they must be assisted by medical practitioners … If they decide to close the schools —…