KING MAYISHA II COMPLAIN ABOUT CIRCUMCISION ISSUE

Issued by: Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA

COMPLAINANT: KING MAYISHA II OF NDZUNDZA MABHOKO TRIBE

A complaint was filed with the BCCSA that television news coverage of deaths and infection of youths during circumcision rites and a phone-in programme on the issue, undermined male initiation customs, encouraged listeners and viewers to perceive the customs as barbaric and was an unconstitutional invasion of privacy.

The BCCSA, following an inquiry into the matter, held:

• That the radio programme invited people to comment on and propose solutions for the deaths and mutilations that sometimes result from circumcision and did not question the continuation of the custom itself;
• That the television shots did not focus on the initiates who merely formed part of the background material showing a number of initiates going to and being treated in hospital.

THE COMPLAINT WAS DISMISSED. The BCCSA did, however, note that great sensitivity should be shown in broadcasting customs which are held to be secret and thus amount to sensitive material. In the broadcasts discussed, the necessary sensitivity was, however, shown by the SABC: the accent was on objective news and open discussion, without transgression into the privacy of the custom itself.

Full reasons will be made available in due course.

PROF KOBUS VAN ROOYEN S.C. (CHAIR) Commissioners: Dr Caroline White and Ms Anne Letsebe