7 February 2008, Cape Town, Western Cape
I am heartened by the positive response we have received when we called upon you to come and engage with us on this important matter of initiation.
I have received an invitation from the World Health Organisation to send an expert on matter of male circumcision in the spread of HIV in April, this year. I honestly felt that before I do this i.e. appoint a South African to be part of this expert group, I should have an indepth discussion with the traditional leaders who are an intergral part of our lives and who remain the custodian of our cultures and customs.
I know very little about initiation and circumcision, even though I may have views based on the limited knowledge and experience I have on the matter. It is therefore imperative that I as a member of government must learn from you and try to harness your collaboration on this complex matter.
I do this with a full understanding that such matters are usually not discussed by women and by foreigners in any particular culture. Because I am humbly seeking your guidance as custodian of the rich diverse cultures and customs of our country, I have initially requested that the interaction be amongst South Africans, you our Traditional Leaders and government, including the Medical Research Council, that is our Statutory Body on research on this matter. As I understand it the MRC has been doing some work in the Eastern Cape. My idea is therefore that there should not be outsiders in our deliberations.
At the end of the meeting we can issue a statement, if necessary. These discussions and debate cannot therefore be conclusive. As your subject I am seeking guidance. I respect culture and custom that enhances our dignity and pride as African, but in particular as South Africa, and as I said with our diverse and rich cultures and customs, the debate must go beyond ourselves and includes others therefore.
Programme Director, I am very comfortable to have this consultation, precisely because of our long history collaboration between the DOH and you Traditional Leaders on matters of domestic violence, maintenance, customary marriages, when I was still the Deputy Minister of Justice and on health matters in general and HIV and AIDS in particular when I became the Minister of Health. I have always enjoyed your support and guidance.
Our relationship is underpinned by the Partnership Against HIV and AIDS that was launched by our President, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, in October 2008. The partnership against HIV and AIDS is a multisectoral call to action amongst all sectors of our society. It places the responsibility of turning the burden of the infections, STI and HIV, premature and unwanted pregnancies.
By the way this is the beginning of the STI and Condom Week. The National event will be held in Kroonstad, Free State on Sunday. Provinces will also mark this week countrywide. This will be followed by marking the Healthy Lifestyles day on the 22nd February 2008 in Kwa Zulu Natal and provinces will mark this day also.
One of the components of healthy lifestyles is prevention of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies including the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV infection. The programme also includes campaigns against abuse of alcohol and drugs, non smoking. It includes proper nutrition and physical activity by way of promoting good health and preventing diseases.
The Department of Health has, as you will recall been providing support and building capacity of traditional leaders in the six provinces that have a strong influence on issues of traditional leadership namely, Eastern Cape, Free State, Kwa Zulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West .
Our collaboration, in the area of HIV and AIDS, just to remind ourselves includes the following achievements:
* the establishment of the Traditional Leaders HIV and AIDS Forum in 1999, when I became the Minister of Health.
* The launch of the Traditional Leaders HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan in 2004
* The training of Traditional Leaders on TB, STI's, HIV and AIDS and the Comprehensive Plan on HIV and AIDS conducted in 2004
* Participation in the Eastern Cape 2nd Initiation Conference which was hosted by the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders
* The representation and participation of traditional leadership in the SANAC
* The participation also, at our invitation, of the representatives of the Traditional Conference by the Traditional Leaders
These have fulfilling and exciting areas of collaboration and this why even today I feel comfortable to dialogue with yourselves, as I also continue to dialogue and recognise our traditional healing in many of its aspects, to recognise, protect, develop and restore its dignity.
In line with the National Health Act we are developing Draft Regulations governing the implementation of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act including circumcision as part of an initiation ceremony. These regulations will be finalised and gazetted soon for public comment. It is my hop that traditional leadership and all interested parties will comment and enrich these regulations prior to promulgation
Thank you.