A 16-year-old initiate died in Libode on Friday, bringing to three the number of deaths from illegal circumcisions since the start of the initiation season last week, the Eastern Cape department of health said.
”He died in the bush at an illegal initiation school,” said spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo.
He said health officials and the police had so far arrested five traditional surgeons.
They would be charged with contravening the Traditional Circumcision Act, which regulates the custom in the Eastern Cape.
Three surgeons or more were still at large.
”At least 46 boys have been rescued from illegal initiation schools in the Transkei. They were as young as 13 years of age,” said Kupelo.
On Thursday, 30 initiates were rescued from an illegal initiation school in Qumbu.
All underage schoolboys from the Zilandana village, they all had gangrene and septic cuts from circumcisions.
Their initiation school was demolished.
Another 19 initiates were rescued elsewhere after unauthorised circumcisions.
Kupelo said the health department had placed 400 officials on standby to monitor the initiation season.
They would be travelling around the Transkei and acting on tip-offs from the community. — Sapa