Three Transkei boys have been admitted to Mthatha's Nelson Mandela Academic hospital with gangrenous penises following illegal circumcisions, the Eastern Cape health department said on Wednesday, 9 June.
Spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the boys, from the Ngqeleni area, would receive specialist care in a bid to avoid amputation. They were part of a group of six originally taken to Libode's St Barnabas hospital.
Kupelo said a 20 year old man was arrested in the Libode area this morning after he had circumcised six other under-age youths.
Health Department officials were this afternoon preparing to rescue eight youths from an illegal circumcision school in the Ngqeleni area following information they were ill.
Kupelo said it had emerged a 14 year old arrested last week for performing illegal circumcisions on his age mates, was responsible for previous botched operations that had already resulted in nine penis amputations.
The youth, who had been released from custody, was being dealt with under the newly implemented Child Justice Act.
He was scheduled to appear before a traditional council tomorrow.
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
10 June 2010
Source: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
(http://www.ecdoh.gov.za/)
