Two more initiates died this weekend in the Eastern Cape, increasing the death toll to five since the start of the winter initiation season just over a week ago.
Samkelo Cakatha, 16, of Libode, died on Friday evening and Sinovuyo Pendu, 18, was reported to have died in Khayelitsha in Mdantsane on Saturday.
This is the first death of the season in BCM and the fourth from villages in and around Libode in Nyandeni.
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) spokesman Mankeli Ngam said the 18-year-old had been circumcised illegally by an unknown surgeon and had spent a week at the initiation camp before his death.
“The cause of death is unknown and the report given to us is that he had reported weakness and pain in both upper and lower limbs. We are waiting for the postmortem results,” Ngam said.Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi said an inquest docket had been opened.
Ngam said the underage initiate in Libode, who had also been circumcised illegally, appeared to have died due to having been assaulted, and from dehydration.
Five other initiates at the school had been admitted to St Barnabas hospital in Ntlaza, near Libode, said Ngam.
A 23-year-old bogus traditional leader has been arrested and is facing charges including murder and illegal circumcision.
Mbi said the SAPS continued to visit initiation sites across BCM.
“We are also trying to root out the criminal elements in the initiation huts because we find that people use this season to hide stolen items in the bushes.
“Before the initiation season started, we had imbizoz and engagements with the communities to streamline exactly what we expect during this season.”
Meanwhile, Methodist Church of Southern Africa leaders visited the Amalinda Wonderland site’s 16 initiates.
Church leader Siyanda Ngceba said they had partnered with various stakeholders to visit different initiation sites this season.
“We’ve doing this for more than five years…We can’t watch our sons and brothers dying in initiation schools while do nothing.
“We are mentoring boys to be responsible men…to let them know a man must live by certain principles in order to become what they are destined to be,” he said...