South Africa’s deadly coming-of-age ceremony continues, too late to turn into an adult! 93 teenagers died last year

South Africa has long had a sacred but deadly traditional ritual called “Ulwaluko”, a coming-of-age ceremony. This ceremony requires teenagers to undergo “circumcision”, symbolizing the transformation of boys into adult men. Last year, 93 teenagers were reported to have died from the coming-of-age ceremony. Even though the authorities have legislated to curb illegal organizations from performing the ceremony, the ceremony is still quietly being performed in many areas this year.

According to foreign media reports, tens of thousands of teenagers in South Africa participate in the coming-of-age ceremony “Ulwaluko” every year. They are taken to remote and secret camps for a three-week “training” and are told not to disclose the details of the ceremony. It is reported that during this period, teenagers have to learn survival skills, male role positioning, and “circumcision” which is regarded as a symbol of adulthood.

Most circumcisions are performed by untrained or unlicensed secret doctors using rusty spears or blades, which may cause the wounds of the teenagers to become infected or even fail, leading to a tragedy of large numbers of casualties. The South African government released a report showing that between 2021 and 2024, as many as 322 teenagers died from coming-of-age rites, and thousands were hospitalized. The causes of death included infection, gangrene, sepsis, etc. Last year alone (2024), 93 teenagers died, and 11 were forced to have their penises amputated due to injuries.

The report also mentioned that some criminal groups set up illegal circumcision agencies, hired untrained personnel to perform circumcisions, and even ignored the regulations that teenagers under the age of 16 cannot be circumcised, kidnapped 12-year-old boys for forced circumcision, and then extorted high ransoms from their parents; many children were whipped and beaten, and some were even stabbed, drowned, or beaten to death when they resisted participating.

To prevent more similar tragedies from happening, the South African government promulgated the Customary Initiation Act, requiring legal institutions to achieve “zero death” circumcisions, and to mark illegal schools. Operators must also receive training and obtain legal licenses. This year’s circumcision season began on May 30, and more than a month later, one death case has been reported.