Three under-aged boys have died after their penises were severely mutilated during two separate initiation ceremonies in Port St Johns and Potchefstroom on Saturday, the Health Department said.
Spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said two boys had died and another was in a serious condition following a botched circumcision in Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape.
Kupelo said a 16-year-old boy died at Nyambe Village while a 17-year-old boy — involved in the same ceremony — later died at the Nelson Mandela hospital.
Another 16-year-old boy was in serious condition at the same hospital. Kupelo said their penises had been extensively cut.
”The illegal initiation school was run by a 17-year-old boy from the village, who was arrested this afternoon,” said Kupelo.
He said the villagers believed witchcraft was to blame for the death of the initiates.
”There is a myth that the boys are visited by a spirit of an evil woman, who pulls the boys by their penises after the initiation, therefore resulting in the mutilation, and their deaths.”
He said that when police arrived at the village, they found the boys had also been suffering from severe diarrhoea.
Meanwhile, in Potchefstroom in the North West, an under-aged boy died on Saturday night after an initiation in Zandukwana Village.
”Police found the boy after they had been inspecting initiating schools,” said Kupelo.
He said that an elderly man responsible for the mutilation, allegedly threatened to kill the police when they arrived.
”The man has been arrested,” said Kupelo.
The boy’s age was not known. – Sapa