As South Africa wobbles towards a new society traditional practices are coming under close scrutiny because of new

legislations, cultural differences and because of dangerous practices in the name of tradition. Good morning Mr. Engelbrecht and my fellow students. My topic today is Circumcision: The Cruelest Cut of All. I believe that circumcision is not the cruelest cut of all it is actually the most beneficial cut of all. Circumcision lowers the risk of thrust, cancer, STDs and contraction of HIV/AIDS. Studies also show women may be at risk when they have sexual partners who have not been circumcised. This is because complications in the women like ectopic cancer, cervical cancer, herpes and even Chlamydia could develop. Now tell me, is this precaution traditional practice really the cruelest cut of all? In relation to the article, Circumcision: The Cruelest Cut of All by Tshokolo Molakeng, Eastern Transvaal resident Richard Mphahlele poses questions on the Xhosa culture on Why must initiations freezing weather?. Well initiations are not forced to be done in winter, they can also be practices done in December. It is a recommendation that its done in winter because the spread of germs are minimal. Richard refers to the food eating in the initiation as junk because they eat mostly pap and food with no salt. He also complains that they had to wash in the river very early in the mornings. Richard says the initiation is tough, lasting more than 5 weeks, they slept in a hut made of plastic bags and tree branches, they also used matted grass for a mattress and slept under a single blanket. In reference to Richards comments, this is not for the whole 3-4 weeks period of the initiation, It is for the first week/ 7 days after the cutting to help the process of healing. After the 7 days is completed a mini ceremony is done called uMosiso/uKojisa where a goat is slaughtered. It symbolizes the first stage of uMkhwetha (which is the boy in the process of manhood) that he has passed. He also complains that they are expected to wash in the river early in the morning. This is because in the rural areas/villages where initiations are done rivers are the only access of water for everyone. Its only logical and common sense for these men to wash in the morning

because young girls and women collect water from the river. Seeing a man washing is surely something they dont expect to see. Richard says the initiation lasts more than 5 weeks. This is an exaggeration. The initiation is 3 weeks and 4 weeks at most. He says initiation is tough, they sleep in a hut made of plastic bags and branches and they also use matted grass for a mattres and sleep under a single blanket.

Frankly this is initiation, a process of boyhood to manhood, not boyhood to western luxury life. This custom initiation is to ensure these boys can survive without luxuries, it is the survival of the fittest. These boys are taught how to thrive under pressure and harsh circumstances. Initiation is not a pampering class for boys but a preparation for young boys to be real men who are able to withstand all harsh circumstances and situations life may throw at them. Now tell me, is circumcision the cruelest cut of all? THANK YOU.