The Gauteng Department of Health has warned communities against groups of people going around recruiting men and boys for circumcision drives, purporting to represent the provincial department.

The Gauteng Department of Health has urged communities to be cautious of people conducting unauthorised recruitment drives for circumcision.

“The Gauteng Department of Health would like to advise communities that no person or organisation is permitted to conduct door-to-door recruitment for voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) on behalf of the department. This comes after a video went viral on social media, wherein a woman is seen recruiting boys for VMMC on behalf of an unidentified doctor in Tshwane,” said spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba.

“The department urges communities to be cautious of people conducting unauthorised recruitment for circumcision. The safety and dignity of all residents is of paramount importance, therefore, any individual or group found misrepresenting themselves as government officials or operating without authorisation will be reported to the South African Police Service and may face criminal charges.”

Modiba emphasised that the voluntary medical male circumcision procedures must only be performed under safe, sterile and medically approved conditions. 

The provincial department has contracted qualified service providers to deliver VMMC services across all five health districts in Gauteng.

“These services are offered free of charge and are only performed at designated approved sites. A comprehensive list can be accessed on: https://shorturl.at/ZpUEg. The public is encouraged to contact their relevant district health officials to verify the legitimacy of those rendering VMMC services,” said Modiba.

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Earlier this month, IOL reported that government launched the 2025 Winter Customary Initiation Season with a focused effort involving several key departments working together to protect the lives and wellbeing of initiates.

The effort brings together the Departments of Health, Basic Education, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), the SAPS, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), all working to enforce regulations, support families, and eliminate illegal initiation schools.

The season was officially opened on May 31 under the theme “Mabaye Bephila, Babuye Bephila”, meaning “They must go alive and come back alive”.

This message underpins a broader government commitment to reducing deaths and injuries linked to unsafe initiation practices, which have been a persistent challenge in some communities.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News 

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