Illegal circumcisions death toll now at 20 in Eastern Cape

July 08, 2008 Edition 1

East London: The circumcision death toll in the Eastern Cape has reached 20.

Provincial health department Spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said a 15-year-old died in an illegal initiation school in the Lusikisiki area at the weekend.

Another 72 initiates were admitted to various hospitals over the weekend and yesterday, mostly suffering from dehydration or septic wounds. Nine of them had already been discharged.

The department, working closely with police, has been conducting raids to shut down illegal initiation schools. Several unregistered traditional surgeons and nurses have been arrested. - Sapa