• Thirteen initiates and four traditional nurses have died while officials rush to visit the worst-affected areas.

• Police have arrested twenty-four people for running illegal schools and failing to protect the young men.

The summer initiation season has turned deadly again.

Thirteen initiates and four traditional nurses have lost their lives in the Eastern Cape.

Two initiates were found hanging. Others died from dehydration, assault and neglect.

Nature also played a cruel role. Lightning strikes killed three traditional nurses and one initiate in two separate incidents. Another nurse died from smoke inhalation.

The OR Tambo district is the worst affected area, recording five deaths.

Chris Hani followed with three deaths, while Buffalo City Metro recorded two. Deaths were also reported in Alfred Nzo and Amathole.

Officials are trying to stop the carnage.

Nkosi Gwazinamba Matanzima and Mlibo Qoboshiyane led a team to visit the hotspots in King Sabata Dalindyebo and Port St John’s this week.

They say twenty cases have been opened and twenty-four people have already been arrested.

“One life lost is too many,” Qoboshiyane said, describing the situation as a crisis.

The province has a tragic history of initiation deaths. Since 2006, over 1,600 initiates have died in the Eastern Cape.

This season, even young children are at risk. A 13-year-old boy who was unlawfully circumcised had to be moved to a rescue centre in Tsolo for his own safety.

Pictured above: Traditional initiates walking on a field.

Image source: Facebook