More initiation deaths

2003-12-23 16:59

Kimberley - Police are investigating the deaths of two young men believed to have died at an initiation school in Jan Kempdorp in the Northern Cape, Inspector Tony Modise said on Tuesday.

On Sunday the father of 17-year-old George Kgomogadi asked a local undertaker to store his son's body, said Modise. The boy had allegedly died in the veld at a Setswana initiation school, but the exact cause of death was unknown.

On Monday another boy's body was delivered to an undertaker by several unknown men. Modise said the deceased, who was identified as Bennett Ntazini, had recently been circumcised.

Modise said it was possible that a third circumcision victim was being treated in Jan Kempdorp hospital.

He said police were investigating the "circumstances surrounding the whole saga". It was not yet clear whether the incidents were linked.

Meanwhile, in North West Province 13 male initiates were admitted to the Potchefstroom Hospital on Sunday and Monday with acute sepsis of the penis and dehydration.

- SAPA