By Ado Oyeyemi
An 11-year-old South African schoolboy has allegedly been dragged into a toilet and forcibly circumcised by four older pupils during school hours.
The incident reportedly occurred at Sinqobile Primary School in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, where the victim, a Grade 5 pupil, was allegedly attacked by four Grade 7 students during break time.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, the older pupils allegedly restrained the boy before cutting off his foreskin. They were also said to have warned him against disclosing the incident, threatening him with further violence if he spoke about it.
The boy reportedly returned home without immediately telling his family what had happened.
His mother later became concerned after noticing that he was walking abnormally and complaining of severe pain. She subsequently took him to a doctor, where the nature of his injuries was discovered.
The woman, whose identity was withheld to protect her son, said the boy eventually showed her his swollen private parts and narrated how the four pupils allegedly attacked him.
She said the suspects pinned her son down inside the school toilet and used a red ribbon around his penis before carrying out the circumcision.
Following the incident, the mother reported the matter to the police and opened a criminal case.
A spokesman for the South African Police Service, Captain Tintswalo Sibeko, confirmed that the matter was under investigation.
He said the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit was handling the case, which was being investigated as assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Sibeko added that no arrest had been made as of the time of the report.
The Gauteng Department of Education also confirmed that the police were investigating the incident, adding that the outcome of the investigation would guide any action to be taken by the department.
The school’s deputy principal, George Mahlangu, described the development as disturbing, stressing that schools should provide safe environments for children.
The boy was reportedly taken back to the school by police to assist in identifying the pupils allegedly involved.
However, his mother expressed concern about sending him back to classes following the traumatic experience.
The incident has also renewed attention on concerns surrounding unsafe circumcision practices in parts of South Africa, particularly those associated with unregulated traditional initiation schools.
Traditional male initiation, known as Ulwaluko, is practised by some South African communities as a rite of passage into adulthood. While legally recognised initiation schools operate under regulations, authorities and health advocates have raised concerns over illegal operations involving untrained practitioners and unsafe procedures.
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The reported deaths of dozens of boys during recent initiation seasons have further heightened calls for stricter enforcement and improved safety measures around circumcision practices.
