Sibiya, Sydney Langelihle (2014-04)
childhood into adulthood and manhood. The practice of TMC has received
increased attention in recent years as a result primarily of complications that
have led to hospitalization, penile amputations, and death of initiates.
This study is a literature review and philosophical-ethical reflection with the
• To explain the current problems that beset TMC in South
• To explore the socio-cultural context in which TMC takes
• To engage in ethical deliberation on the harms and benefits of
TMC and determine whether, in its current form, the practice
constitutes a net harm or benefit
• To establish the ethical basis on which society ought to
intervene in TMC, and to explore the modes of intervention
proposed. Kepe (2010:729-730) identifies three concurrent crises that beset TMC in
South Africa- the crisis of disease, injuries, and death suffered by some
initiates, the crisis of the tension between the government and traditional
leaders with regards to government intervention in TMC, and the crisis of the
uncontrolled and negative way in which societal changes have impacted on
the practice of traditional male circumcision. Male circumcision is the most
widely accepted cultural practice among the Xhosa-speaking people of South
Africa, and it is considered to be the only manner in which a boy can attain
manhood and adulthood (Vincent, 2008).
In view of the ongoing, unambiguous and preventable harm associated with
TMC as it is currently practised, I think that it ought not to be allowed to continue in its current format. But I also think that the defect in TMC is
remediable. I therefore feel sufficiently warranted to advocate for intervention
to make the practice safer for all concerned. Intervention in TMC may be
justified on public health, socio-cultural, autonomy, and beneficence grounds.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tradisionele manlike besnyding (TMB) is die nie-terapeutiese, rituele
verwydering van die peniele voorhuid van ’n manspersoon. Dit word gedoen
as deel van ’n seremonie van oorgang vanaf kinderjare na volwassenheid en
manlikheid. Die praktyk van TMB het die afgelope jare toenemende aandag
geniet, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van komplikasies van die prosedure wat gelei
het tot hospitalisasie, peniele amputasies en dood van die persone wat
Hierdie studie is ’n literatuuroorsig en filosofies-etiese refleksie met die
• Om die huidige probleme met TMB in Suid-Afrika te verduidelik
• Om die sosio-kulturele konteks waarin TMB in Suid-Afrika plaasvind, te
• Om vanuit etiese oorweging te verduidelik wat die nadele en voordele
van TMB is en te bepaal of die praktyk, in die huidige vorm, suiwer
nadelig of voordelig is
• Om die etiese basis waarop die gemeenskap in TMB behoort in te tree,
asook die voorgestelde metode van intervensie, te ondersoek. Kepe (2010:729-730) identifiseer drie samevallende krisisse wat TMB in Suid-
Afrika insluit – die probleem van siekte, beserings en dood ondervind deur
sommige inisiandi, spanning tussen die regering en tradisionele leiers met
betrekking tot regerings-intervensie in TMB, en die ongekontroleerde en
negatiewe wyse waarin samelewingsveranderinge ’n impak het op die praktyk
van tradisionele manlike besnyding. Manlike besnyding is die mees algemene
aanvaarde kulturele praktyk in die Xhosa-sprekende mense van Suid-Afrika.
Dit word beskou as die enigste manier waarop ‘n seun manlikheid en
volwassenheid kan bereik (Vincent, 2008).
In die lig van die voortdurende, ondubbelsinnige en voorkomende nadele wat
geassosieer word met TMB soos dit tans beoefen word, dink ek dit behoort nie toegelaat te word in die huidige formaat nie. Maar ek dink ook dat die
gebrek in TMB herstelbaar is. Daarom voel ek genoegsaam verseker om
intervensie te verdedig om die praktyk veiliger te maak vir almal betrokke.
Intervensie in TMB mag geregverdig word op grond van publieke , sosiaalkulturele
en outonomiese voordele.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/86647
This item appears in the following collections: Masters Degrees (Philosophy)128
﻿ Malherbe, W. D. F. (Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG), 1975)
﻿ Mlewa, Andrew Josephat (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-03)
﻿ Ali, Ali Salim (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-03)
Ethical dilemmas of circumcision school with reference to the Venda
﻿ Mahada, Livhuwani Paul (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004-03)
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Morbidity and mortality are national problems that affect a vast number of children and young
adults each year in Circumcision Schools. The number of children who either get sick or die
﻿ Chinkoyo, Evans (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-12)
﻿ Kadenge, Gwinyai (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-04)
Since the launch of the Male Circumcision (MC) HIV prevention program in Mariental, Namibia, concerns have arisen that men in this community might start developing a false sense of protection ...
﻿ Mhlahlo, Andile P. (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2009-03)
Migration, mines and mores : the HIV epidemic in Southern Africa
﻿ Hargrove, John (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2007)
Men's Health in Africa. Part 1: Reproductive urogenital diseases and human immunodeficiency virus infection
﻿ Heyns C.F.; Bornman M.S. (2008)
Die betekenis van die besnydenis in die Ou Testament : 'n eksegeties-teologiese ondersoek
﻿ Avenant, Willem Jacobus,1953- (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1982)
﻿ Peltzer K.; Simbayi L.; Banyini M.; Kekana Q. (2011)
Background: Medical male circumcision (MMC) is now considered one of the best available evidence-based biomedical HIV prevention interventions. However, there is some concern about risks for behavioural disinhibition, or ...
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