Circumcisions kill 20 boys in South Africa

Pretoria, 18 Jun-(ANA)-Twenty South African boys have died following botched circumcisions in the Eastern Cape Province, according a provisional health spokesperson.

"The deaths occurred over the past 12 days, with nine of them occurring over the past 24 hours," the spokesperson said.

Some 60 boys have been rescued from 11 initiation schools which have since been closed.

Circumcision is seen as a rite of passage into manhood in some South African communities.

The practice is common among the Xhosa and Ndebele communities.

However, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini wants it reintroduced among the Zulu people because of reports that medical circumcision can reduce the chances of getting HIV.

The rescued boys have been taken to the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha.

"All 60 of them have septic wounds and are dehydrated," said Eastern Cape health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo, reports Sapa news agency. (ANA)

FA/ANA/18 June 2010--------