Botched circumcisions claim 18 lives

EIGHTEEN initiates have died in the Eastern Cape since the start of the circumcision season two weeks ago.

The youngest of the dead is a 14year-old boy from Libode in the Pondoland area.

Fifty-eight boys have been admitted to hospital, including a nineyearboy from Mhlontlo area.

Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said, on Tuesday alone, five initiates died.

“All died due to botched circumcision and negligence,” Kupelo said.

Statistics released by the health department show that Mthatha and Port St Johns had the highest number of deaths, with four dead initiates each. Lusikisiki has three deaths, while Ngqeleni and Libode recorded two deaths each. Hewu, Mbizana, Tsolo and Qumbu recorded only one death each.

Kupelo said most had died of renal failure caused by gangrene, while one was shot dead in Mthatha.

Early this month, the health department deployed 37 vehicles to assist with monitoring circumcision in the province.

Kupelo added that his department has hired an additional six doctors to assist with circumcision.

Kupelo said: “We also opened centres in Mthatha, Libode, Tsolo and Lusikisiki. An additional 10 vehicles have been received from our national office.

“Yesterday we rescued a boy at a traditional healer’s residence. The boy could not talk nor walk.”

“So far no death has been recorded in Port Elizabeth. We want to see how they do things so we can ask those areas who are experiencing deaths to come and learn here,” local government and traditional affairs MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said.