Dozens of initiates in hospital

2006-07-06 13:17

Cape Town - The circumcision death toll in the Eastern Cape has risen to 16 with the death of another would-be initiate, the province's health department announced on Thursday.

Spokesperson Luyanda Majeke said the youth, who had been attending an illegal initiation school at Mooiplaas outside East London, died on Tuesday.

A post-mortem had confirmed that he died of septicaemia.

Majeke said department authorities were on their way to Mooiplaas to conduct an "outreach" programme to educate the community about correct circumcision procedures.

He said the police intended to arrest the unlicensed traditional surgeon who ran the school.

Seventeen unlicensed surgeons have already been arrested in the province this winter circumcision season. They face a variety of charges, including murder and unlawful circumcision.

Dozens of initiates have been admitted to hospital with circumcision-related complications, including gangrene and malnutrition, or for re-circumcision.

Earlier this week it was reported that traditional leaders in parts of Pondoland, where most of this season's death have occurred, want harsher sentences for those found guilty of performing illegal circumcisions.

Thirteen of the deaths have occurred at illegal schools in Pondoland.

- SAPA