US Edition41 young men die in South Africa from circumcision procedures during initiation ceremonies
Authorities arrested 41 people linked to illegal initiation schools where unsafe circumcision rites caused at least 41 young men’s deaths, mostly in Eastern Cape, officials said.
- On Tuesday, South Africa's Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa said at least 41 young men died during this year's summer initiation in November and December.
- Negligence by initiation schools and parents, including unsafe advice like avoiding water, contributed to fatalities, while parents' payments fueled unregistered initiation schools, Hlabisa said.
- Eastern Cape province has emerged as a hotspot with 21 deaths, while only children aged 16 and above may be admitted with parental consent under registration requirement for initiation schools, yet illegal initiation schools continue to operate.
- Authorities arrested 41 people in relation to illegal initiation schools, including parents who supplied wrong ages, as police and authorities conducted probes into admission irregularities.
- The rite's annual practice across ethnic groups complicates regulatory responses as persistent unsafe practices and illegal initiation schools driven by payments challenge regulatory authorities and legislation.
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TMZ41 Young Men Die in South Africa After Circumcision Initiation
At least 41 young men in South Africa are dead as a result of getting their foreskins removed ... and the fatal circumcisions were performed as part of traditional initiation ceremonies. The stunning number of deaths occurred in November and…
With the circumcision ritual common in some South African ethnic groups, young men enter adult life, with deaths occurring every year. Many of them would probably be avoidable.
Negligentness, poor hygiene and a lack of medical care mean that in South Africa, young people continue to die in circumcision rituals. This year, with 41 deaths, there were particularly many.
In Africa, dozens of puberts die each year in circumcisions that are not performed properly. This year, it was significantly more than in the previous year.
South African authorities point to negligence in compliance with health standards. Cape East Province accounts for half of all deaths.
41 young men die from circumcision rites in South Africa's initiation season
Despite legislation introduced to regulate the process, fatalities continue to be reported every year. South African law requires initiation schools to register with authorities and comply with health and safety standards, but officials say illegal schools continue to operate widely.
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