11-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Forcibly Circumcised by Four Pupils in South Africa

By Gloria Drealomalicha

An 11-year-old boy was allegedly dragged into a school toilet and forcibly circumcised by four older pupils in South Africa, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

The Grade 5 pupil was allegedly attacked during break time at Sinqobile Primary School in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, by four Grade 7 pupils.

The boys allegedly held the child down before cutting off his foreskin and later threatened him with violence if he told anyone about the incident.

The boy reportedly returned home after the alleged attack but initially kept the incident to himself.

His mother became suspicious after noticing that he was walking unusually. When he later complained of severe pain, she took him to a doctor, where the alleged injuries were examined.

The mother, whose identity has not been disclosed to protect her son, told the Daily Mail that the boy eventually revealed what had happened.

She said the child showed her his swollen private parts and told her that four older pupils had attacked him.

According to the mother, the pupils pinned him down in the school toilet during break time, tied a red ribbon around his penis and cut off his foreskin.

She said the boys identified themselves as Grade 7 pupils and warned her son that he would be beaten if he reported the incident.

The mother has since opened a criminal case over the alleged attack.

South African Police Service spokesman Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said the matter was being investigated as assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

“Our family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit are investigating and no arrests have been made at this stage,” Sibeko said.

The Gauteng Department of Education said the police were investigating the incident and that the outcome of the investigation would determine any action to be taken by the department.

The school’s deputy principal, George Mahlangu, described the incident as disturbing, stressing that schools should provide a safe environment for children.

Police reportedly took the boy back to the school to identify the pupils allegedly involved. However, his mother has expressed concern about allowing him to return to classes following the incident.

The case has also drawn attention to wider concerns surrounding unsafe circumcision practices in South Africa, particularly those linked to some traditional initiation schools.

Traditional male initiation, known as Ulwaluko, is practised by some South African communities as a rite of passage into manhood. While regulated initiation schools are legally recognised, illegal operations have been associated with untrained practitioners and unsafe circumcision procedures.

The Daily Mail reported that 43 boys died during a recent initiation season, amid continuing concerns over the safety of traditional circumcision practices.