Latest news 67 boys rescued from circumcision ritual in South Africa
According to government figures, 67 boys have been rescued from illegal circumcision facilities in South Africa. This is a cultural practice in which adolescent boys are circumcised and prepared for their role as adults.
25.06.2025, 14:02
SDA
In the past, dozens of deaths have occurred due to infections. According to the state coordination authority PICC, 14 illegal facilities have been closed in recent days.
The circumcision, which is carried out by traditional healers in so-called initiation schools, is traditionally followed by a "phase of seclusion" lasting several days, during which the boys live in isolated huts in remote areas.
Government wants to hold those responsible to account
Andries Stemmer, the deputy chairman of the authority, said that the government will ensure that the managers of the illegal facilities, who are interested in profiting at the expense of the children, are held accountable. "All those initiated must come home alive," Stemmer said.
The ritual, which is practiced in South Africa by the Xhosa and Ndebele ethnic groups, is culturally deeply rooted. Only initiated youths are considered "real men" in these cultures. Since 2010, licensed facilities have been strictly regulated by the government. Attempts to promote medical circumcision in clinics in order to minimize health risks have so far had little success.
