A traditional circumcision ceremony in South Africa has ended in tragedy, with 39 boys losing their lives and many others left badly injured after poorly carried out procedures.

The Department of Governance & Traditional Affairs had hoped to achieve zero deaths in registered initiation schools by 2025. However, the rise of illegal schools has become a serious problem, and police are now taking steps to shut them down.

According to Chief Sipho Mahlangu, Deputy Chair of the National House of Traditional Leaders, the majority of deaths and injuries happen in unapproved schools. He said around 80% of the boys who die or are mutilated attend these illegal centres.

The government has promised to reduce the number of illegal initiation schools by half by the year 2029. Right now, there are 429 of them still in operation, targeting vulnerable young boys.

Most of the deaths are caused by extreme dehydration. Many boys are not allowed to drink water after being circumcised because of a false belief that avoiding urination helps with healing.

The ceremony, known as Ulwaluko, is a long-standing tradition mostly observed by the Xhosa people. It marks the transition from boyhood to manhood and is usually carried out on boys aged 16 to 26.

In a similar case last year, 11 boys had to undergo penis amputations after unskilled traditional surgeons used dangerous tools like rusty spears and razor blades during the procedure, leading to horrific results.