SIBUYISELA UMDLANGA KOMKHULU JOINS LIFE ORIENTATION CURRICULUM

A partnership between Walter Sisulu University and the Nyandeni Great Place has set in motion a plan to end unnecessary deaths and amputations linked to traditional male circumcision by 2027.

Launched under the banner “Sibuyisela Umdlanga Komkhulu” (Returning the Spear to the Great Place), the initiative introduces a Schoolboy Syllabus aimed at equipping boys aged 12 to 18 with life-saving knowledge before entering initiation schools.

Teachers are receiving specialised training to incorporate circumcision health education into Life Orientation, making schools central in preparing young men for a safe passage into manhood.

His Majesty King Ndamase Ndamase, said: “It has been a while since we have been trying to solve the problems around our tradition of male circumcision. I am glad the teachers are involved in this project. This is the start, and I hope it will not end here at Nyandeni but reach other places as well until we have solved the problems surrounding our tradition.”

The programme builds on research by WSU and local chiefs which revealed a grim reality that between 1995 and 2024, over 1 260 initiation-related deaths and 614 penile amputations were recorded in the Eastern Cape.

Contributing factors include underage circumcision, illegal surgeons, dehydration, and the absence of father figures in households.

Research Professor in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mbuyiselo Douglas, who led the research behind the syllabus, said: “The initiative was born out of pain witnessed first-hand by King Ndamase when called to see his district’s penile amputations and deaths in 2009 at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital. Now, we want teachers to empower learners so that no boy dies because of lack of knowledge.”

The Schoolboy Syllabus covers critical areas such as understanding circumcision health, recognising complications, identifying the roles of legitimate stakeholders such as iingcibi (traditional surgeons) and amakhankatha (traditional nurses), and ensuring that no child undergoes initiation without medical clearance.

Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders representative, Vuyo Stofile, highlighted the urgent need for intervention in the province.

“In some seasons we have over 56 000 initiates but only 26 monitoring teams. OR Tambo region always leads in deaths and amputations. This project’s 0 deaths by 2027 goal is not only necessary, it is overdue,” said Stofile.

Chief Ndumiso Lutuka echoed the sentiment, pointing to the cultural silence that has long enabled abuse.

“Truth be told, the problem we are facing is unnecessary. If our tradition killed, none of us would be here today. This project is different because it starts with the boys themselves, they will grow with this knowledge and protect themselves.”

The Schoolboy Syllabus that rolls out across 22 schools in the Nyandeni District from 2025 to 2027 reflects WSU’s Vision 2030 pillars of social impact and community partnerships.

By Anita Roji