8 initiates die at EC initiation schools since start of initiation season

JOHANNESBURG - The Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has confirmed that eight youngsters have died since the start of the initiation season this year.

The department says traditional surgeons believed to be responsible for at least seven of the deaths, did not have the right documentation to practice.

READ: 2 die at different EC initiation schools

It, however, clarifies that the eighth death comes from a registered initiation school in Butterworth.

Department spokesperson, Pheello Oliphant, has urged parents to refrain from sending their boys to bogus initiation schools.

"The culprits who circumcised the teenagers have been arrested and are behind bars. The causes of the deaths in most instances is dehydration, septicemia and inexperienced traditional surgeons who have no knowledge of conducting the operation," said Oliphant.