Sithandiwe Velaphi

The number of initiates who died during circumcision rites since the start of the month has risen to seven, while 226 others were rescued by traditional leaders at an illegal initiation school in Flagstaff this week.

This happened despite large-scale intervention from the departments of health and local government and traditional affairs as well as traditional leaders to stop the deaths of initiates.

The latest initiate to die was from the Port St Johns area, according to police spokesperson Capt Mduduzi Godlwana.

Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa provincial secretary Nkosi Xolile Ndevu, who was dispatched to Pondoland where most of the initiate deaths occurred, said the deaths initiates was attributed to profit-driven traditional surgeons who did not perform the ritual properly.

“Some of them have no knowledge on how to carry out the custom, leaving these young boys in the hands of inexperienced young men,” said Ndevu.

Health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo agreed and shared Ndevu’s sentiments.

“These killings are attributed to assault and poor coordination of the custom in some parts of the province,” said Kupelo.

The health department has set aside a total of R14.3m in a bid to stop the deaths of initiates, Bitched initiations claimed 62 lives in the province last year.

Kupelo said the money was also aimed at increasing awareness about HIV/Aids in relation to circumcision.

“Research tells us that chances of being infected with HIV are decreased when you have been circumcised,” said Kupelo

A total of R2.1m from the approved budget will go to the Walter Sisulu University Medical Centre to train nurses and medical practitioners who would be in the “forefront to eliminate circumcision-related deaths”.

Ndevu said they would continue to visit initiation huts daily to inspect conditions. Of the 62 initiates who died last year, 41 died in June and 21 in December, while 23 lost their genitals.