Two initiates were killed when their initiation hut caught fire at a village near Qumbu in the early hours of yesterday.
This brings the death toll to four since the winter initiation season was launched in East London last week.
Meanwhile, two illegal traditional surgeons are on the run from East London police after it was discovered they were operating an illegal initiation school, charging R750 per initiate in Scenery Park.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said the two initiates who died in the fire were aged 18 and 19. Their initiation hut, which housed 25 youths, was found burning at Ntabazigogo village in the Sulenkama administrative area near Qumbu.
“At the moment we do not know what happened. Some of the initiates were rushed to hospital in Mthatha. Police are investigating the cause of the fire, which occurred at about 6am,” said Fatyela yesterday.
Confirming the deaths, OR Tambo Traditional Initiation District Forum chairman Nkosi Gcobani Tyali said 23 initiates had been injured in the fire.
“The deaths are not associated with botched circumcisions or other related problems like illtreatment of initiates,” Tyali said. “According to information received, the two died after their lodge caught fire.”
According to the new laws regulating traditional initiation in the Eastern Cape, only boys aged 18 and above may legitimately undergo the rite.
Two initiates die in Qumbu after rite hut catches fire
This brings the death toll to four since the winter initiation season was launched in East London last week.
Meanwhile, two illegal traditional surgeons are on the run from East London police after it was discovered they were operating an illegal initiation school, charging R750 per initiate in Scenery Park.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said the two initiates who died in the fire were aged 18 and 19. Their initiation hut, which housed 25 youths, was found burning at Ntabazigogo village in the Sulenkama administrative area near Qumbu.
“At the moment we do not know what happened. Some of the initiates were rushed to hospital in Mthatha. Police are investigating the cause of the fire, which occurred at about 6am,” said Fatyela yesterday.
Confirming the deaths, OR Tambo Traditional Initiation District Forum chairman Nkosi Gcobani Tyali said 23 initiates had been injured in the fire.
“The deaths are not associated with botched circumcisions or other related problems like illtreatment of initiates,” Tyali said. “According to information received, the two died after their lodge caught fire.”
According to the new laws regulating traditional initiation in the Eastern Cape, only boys aged 18 and above may legitimately undergo the rite.
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