Six more youths have lost their penises as a result of bungled circumcisions in the Eastern Cape, the provincial health department said on Monday.
Spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said 18 would-be initiates were admitted to hospital in Port St Johns last week, of whom four had to have their septic penises amputated.
Four others of the 18 were admitted after being assaulted at the initiation schools they were attending.
Two youths were brought in to the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha last week when their penises fell off following circumcisions gone wrong.
Kupelo said the death toll in the current winter circumcision season in the province now stood at seven.
Five of the deaths were the direct results of circumcisions: one youth was murdered at a school, and another died in a fire at a school in the East London area.
A total of 19 surgeons and one nurse had been arrested.
He said the most recent arrest was of a surgeon at Ngqeleni, who was earlier held and released on bail after illegally performing circumcisions.
When the 24-year-old man did not turn up for a court appearance, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Police who went to execute the warrant on Sunday night found him circumcising more boys. — Sapa