Mohl Seboledi, bagologolo ba re: "koma ka dilete e a bogwa" eup?a lehono koma ka dilete e fetogile lebitla la badikana. Seo se diraget?ego Mpumalanga ke masetlapelo. Re le ba PAC re re mahloko go batswadi, meloko le metswalle ya badikana bao ba robet?ego boroko bjo bogolo. Set?haba sa MaAfrika se swanet?e go ipot?i?a dipot?i?o se be se tle le dikarabo. Koma e fetogile kgwebo. Thipane le rabadia ba fetogile borakgwebo. Set?o sa MaAfrika se fetogile mahlabi?adihlong. MaAfrika a bapola bana ba bona sefapanong sa set?o. Marumo fase bana ba thari ye ntsho. (Translation of Sepedi paragraph follows.) [Mr L M MPHAHLELE: Hon Speaker, there is a saying: People used to go to the initiation schools and come back, but these days the initiation schools have become the killing fields from which they never return. We are deeply saddened by what happened in Mpumalanga. The PAC members would like to express their sincere condolences to the parents of the deceased initiates, their relatives and friends. The people of South Africa have to ask themselves questions and also come up with answers to those questions. People have turned the initiation schools into businesses. The owners of the initiation schools have now become business owners. The African tradition has become a laughing matter. The Africans are crucifying their children on the traditional cross. This must come to an end.]
Hon Speaker, it is unacceptable that so many young lives are lost yearly at initiation schools. We appreciate that certain elements of this practice are beneficial to young men, like training in manhood, perseverance, social responsibility and oral literature. However, as the PAC, we cannot and will not condone the murder and maiming of young people in the name of tradition. From time immemorial, koma [initiation school] - what the Europeans miscalled "circumcision" - has been the responsibility of the state. That is why the African head of state King Shaka had the final word on this practice.
Today, our state - which is essentially a European state on African soil - is aloof and indifferent in the face of the massacre of young men. If we want to get things right as far as koma is concerned, we have to do the following. Firstly, government must audit initiation schools and set strict rules for opening such schools, and National Treasury must foot the bill for the initiation of both boys and girls. A European state on African soil may find this proposal laughable.
Secondly, the surgical operations must be performed by medically qualified personnel under hygienic conditions. Finally, the initiation calendar and the normal school calendar must never conflict. This way, we can balance the need for respect of African traditions on the one hand, and the preservation of life on the other. I thank you.