At least 41 young men have died during traditional circumcision ceremonies in South Africa over the past two months, authorities confirmed.
The fatalities occurred during initiation periods in November and December, which coincide with the summer school holidays, as reported by
The initiations are part of a long-standing cultural practice among Xhosa, Ndebele, Sotho, and Venda communities, where boys are isolated for weeks at initiation schools to learn discipline, cultural values, and social responsibilities. Circumcision is a key element of these rites of passage into manhood.
