Five traditional surgeons have been arrested in the Eastern Cape after 20 initiates died following botched circumcisions since the start of the initiation season around early June, the provincial health department said on Monday.
Department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said four ”surgeons” had already appeared in various courts and all had been released on bail of R1 000.
A fifth person was still in police custody. All five were arrested in early June.
Kupelo said the health department had embarked on a campaign in May this year, and had visited schools and chiefs and held workshops ”to educate them about circumcisions”.
Kupelo said provincial health MEC Bevan Goqwana would visit the Pondoland area on Tuesday and would be accompanied by traditional leaders.
On Sunday night alone, 17 initiates who had been circumcised at illegal schools had been admitted to Eastern Cape Hospitals, Kupelo said.
This brings the total number of initiates being treated at Eastern Cape hospitals to 105.
Kupelo said officials from the provincial health department and the police had to date closed 17 illegal circumcision schools. – Sapa