Sad story that made me wince... From South Africa:
SIX initiates have died and more than 50 have been rescued from illegal initiation schools in the Transkei.
All the deaths happened during the first week of the start of the circumcision period in the Eastern Cape.
Five were under 18 years of age - although the circumcision laws ban the initiation of boys under that age. The five were aged 13, 14, and 17 years old.
Kupelo said all the six dead initiates had apparently undergone circumcision without their parents' consent and knowledge, and had therefore not undergone the compulsory pre-circumcision medical examination demanded by the Act.
"But the problem is not only caused by boys who attend initiation without their parents' consent, but the bigger problem lies with the people who conduct the circumcisions - iingcibi. I think that's where we need to pull the plug on this," said Kupelo.
He said that traditional surgeons were also making the respected African rite a laughing stock and were charged a chicken for performing the procedure.
"One of the things that kills these boys is that they walk about 100km to the home of iingcibi, are circumcised and walk back home to their respective village bleeding all the way," said Kupelo.
"Our worry is that apart from dying, there is a high possibility that the boys will end up contracting HIV," said Kupelo.
He said bogus traditional surgeons had received no training. They take a spear or a knife and move down the queue, cutting the first boy to the last without sterilising or washing the instrument.