SHOCKING! 34 South African youths die during manhood initiation rites

It was reported that at least 34 South African youths have died during this period of traditional initiation to manhood rites. However, the country’s cultural rights commission is already calling for a crackdown on schools that offer dangerous rituals to prevent more deaths.

Among the Xhosa people, initiation to manhood is a common tradition, but it is hazardous and deadly. Every year, teenage boys leave their families to spend weeks with a traditional leader in the wilderness, where they undergo circumcision.

While addressing the issue, David Luka Mosoma, the Chairman of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities said: “No nation prides itself by committing genocide of his sons… and no culture can be blamed for this because the deaths of an initiate is a consequence of human negligence, including the current criminal activities and commercialization of the practice,” said Mosoma.

Meanwhile, the country’s police are investigating the issues of the 34 South African youths that have died during this period of traditional initiation to manhood rites.