The mass circumcision ceremonies known as Ulwaluko in South Africa resulted in the death of at least 43 boys and left dozens of others mutilated. The rituals are performed twice a year at initiation schools and aim to prepare young people for adult life.
During Ulwaluko, young people are separated from their families and covered in white clay, spending three weeks of isolation in the transition from boys to men before returning home. As part of the ceremony, initiates must be circumcised by traditional surgeons with years of experience.
However, many circumcisions are performed by unqualified people who operate illegal initiation schools. These people use inadequate instruments such as old spears, scissors, or razor blades to perform the surgical procedures.
Local media reported that 43 boys died in this year's ceremonies. Ulwaluko can be fatal, and in 2024 the total number of deaths in the winter rituals was even higher, highlighting the severity of the problem in South African traditional ceremonies.
