At least 43 boys have died during recent Ulwaluko initiation rituals in South Africa. Government reports link these fatalities to illegal schools where untrained operators use primitive tools to perform circumcisions.
The 322 deaths recorded since 2021
The scale of the crisis in South Africa's Ulwaluko ceremonies has reached a critical point. A government report recorded 322 deaths of young boys between 2021 and 2024, accompanied by thousands of hospitalizations and amputations . The tragedy is not limited to the distant past; in 2024 alone, the combined death toll from winter and summer rituals reached 93 boys, with 11 cases of total penis amputations reported.
These figures highlight a systemic failure in the safety of traditional rites. According to the report, the primary causes of death are sepsis, gangrene, and severe dehydration, though some boys have been beaten, drowned, or stabbed to death while in the care of these schools.
Razor blades and extortion in illegal initiation schools
While traditional Ulwaluko is meant to be performed by experienced surgeons, a predatory industry of illegal initiation schools has emerged. As reported, these sites are often run by criminal gangs and staffed by untrained individuals who use scissors,old spears, and razor blades to perform surgeries , frequently without any form of anaesthetic or sanitary precautions.
The danger extends beyond medical malpractice into organized crime. There are hundreds of annual reports of these illegal schools kidnapping boys as young as 12 years old.. Once the surgery is performed, the gangs force parents to pay ransoms to ensure their sons are returned home safely.
The social stigma of the 'Inkwenkwe' label
Despite the lethal risks, the pressure to undergo Ulwaluko remains immense due to its role in South African social structures. young men who do not complete the rite are barred from participating in tribal meetings, certain social activities, and are often considered ineligible for marriage.
The psychological toll is exemplified by the term Inkwenkwe, a harsh insult meaning "boy" used against those who refuse the ritual. This social coercion is powerful; for instance,19-year-old Scotty Dawka admitted to a local reporter that he was terrified of the procedure after seeing television reports of amputations, yet he proceeded anyway to ensure he would be respected as a man by his village elders.
Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa's push for zero deaths
The South African government is attempting to reclaim the ritual from criminal elements. Minister of Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa has condemned the operation of illegal schools, stating that those who facilitate them are committing criminal offenses and must face the full might of the law.
Minister Hlabisa has pledged to work toward a goal of zero deaths, emphasizing that respect for tradition must coexist with the constitutional right to life and dignity. He has called upon traditional leaders, parents, and communities to collaborate in eliminating preventable injuries associated with these customary practices.
The limits of the Customary Initiation Act's enforcement
To combat these deaths, the state passed the Customary Initiation Act, which mandates that all initiation schools be registered and all surgeons be state-qualified. South African police have already acted on this legislation by shutting down 42 unregistered sites, making 40 arrests, and rescuing 180 boys.
However, significant gaps remain in the reporting. It is still unclear how the government intends to identify these clandestine schools before fatalities occur, or how the state plans to address the shortage of qualified traditional surgeons that may be driving boys toward illegal operators. Furthermore, the source does not specify if the 40 arrests have led to convictions or if the "criminal gangs" mentioned are part of larger syndicates.
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