Local authorities report that a large number of young men have died after being isolated at initiation schools.
11:34, Thu, Jan 1, 2026 Updated: 11:35, Thu, Jan 1, 2026
Xhosa boys in a field during traditional Xhosa male circumcision ceremonies (Image: Getty)
At least 41 young men have died in South Africa as a result of traditional initiation activities, according to the local authorities. Traditional initiation is a rite of passage into manhood which is practiced bi-annually by groups across Africa, including the Xhosa, Ndebele, Sotho and Venda communities. Initiation periods typically run during winter (June-July) and summer (November-December) school holidays. The latest death toll is from activities in November and December.
As part of the rituals, young men are isolated at initiation schools where they are taught values and responsibilities needed for adulthood. As part of the process, the men are required to undergo circumcision which is the cause of the deaths. As a result, the government has been forced to intervene with legislation against the practice.
Hlabisa said 41 people have been arrested in relation to illegal initiation schools (Image: Getty)
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The new laws introduced require initiation schools to be registered with authorities, yet many illegal initiation schools still run - many of these are where the young men die.
Parents of the children are expected to pay for the school fees, which is one reason many opt for an unregistered school.
On Tuesday, South Africa's Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa told local media that 41 initiates died during this year's summer initiation.
He said this was due to negligence from both illegal and legal schools, as well as parents not adhering to safety standards and medical advice.
Mr Hlabisa added that advice given to the men is to avoid drinking water in order to heal faster from the procedure, which is unproven.
Xhosa Boys undertake manhood rituals (Image: Getty)
He said: “There is negligence in terms of meeting health standards in some of the initiation schools. If you take your child to an initiation school, you never make a follow-up, you do not monitor, you do not go there to see whether the child does drink water, you are placing your child at risk.”
41 people have been arrested in relation to the illegal schools, which includes parents who claimed their children were a different age in order to be admitted.
According to South African law, only children who are 16 years and above may be admitted to initiation school with parental consent.
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