- Title
- The place of traditional circumcision in the initiation into manhood among the amaXhosa people of the Eastern Cape Province - South Africa: a human rights perspective
- Creator
- Mkuzo, Pearl Zukiswa
- Subject
- Circumcision -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Subject
- Xhosa (African people) -- Health and hygiene
- Date
- 2022-02
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28388
- Identifier
- vital:74286
- Description
- This desktop study sought to investigate the place of traditional circumcision in the initiation into manhood among the amaXhosa people of South Africa. It also explores this phenomenon from the human rights perspective. This is because male initiation is a highly significant Xhosa rite of passage that acts as the instrument for a transition from boyhood to manhood. In Xhosa custom, traditional circumcision is generally performed on boys (young males) ranging between the ages of 18 and 25. Traditionally, the circumcision ritual is a complex one involving several different stages each closely regulated by principles and requirements. Regrettably, failure to go to the initiation school results in a boy being socially stigmatized and orchestrated by society. In recent years many concerns have arisen due to the high number of deaths after circumcision during initiation sessions. This rite of passage to manhood among Xhosa people is riddled with numerous complications and concerns that raise questions regarding the initiates' human rights. Each year thousands of youths enter initiation schools during initiation seasons. Some of these initiates experience medical complications due to a number of factors that require treatment, among others, septicemia, gangrene, severe dehydration, genital mutilation, penal amputation, maltreatment, assault, abuse, and violence which ultimately may lead to death of the initiates. The present researcher is of the opinion that the physical and emotional harm experienced by initiates is not compatible with a range of basic human rights, including the right to liberty, the right to health, the right to be free from torture, the right to security of person, the right to privacy and the right to life. One can argue that when the practice takes place under unhygienic, uncoordinated, or illdisciplined conditions, the procedure poses a threat to health and life, thus, violating the core human rights instrument namely: The United Nations Human Rights Declarations, namely, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the Children's Act. These instruments have several provisions which are applicable to the circumcision of children during initiation. The present circumstances surrounding the initiation practice are also evaluated, namely, the outcry of the church and other leaders, who are calling for the practice to be abolished, is noted. The present researcher asserts that, because of the importance of this practice to Xhosa culture, calling for its abolition is not a solution. Instead, it is suggested that the practice should rather be redefined to better contribute to the broader challenges of moral regeneration in South Africa.
- Description
- Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Law, 2022
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (xii, 75 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- University of Fort Hare
- Publisher
- Faculty of Law
- Language
- English
- Rights
- rights holder
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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- Downloads: 3
Collections
UFH Nelson R Mandela School of Law
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Mkuzo P.pdf | 32 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |