The body of an 18-year-old would-be initiate was found in a hut in the village of Nyandeni, in the Libode area of Transkei, on Tuesday morning, the Eastern Cape health department said.
Spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said the corpse was discovered by community members.
It appeared that an illegal initiation school had been run at the hut, and that two other youths circumcised along with the 18-year-old had fled.
The "traditional nurse" caring for the youths was reportedly a schoolmate.
Police were called to the scene, and an autopsy would be considered. The cause of death was not yet known.
Kupelo said the death brought the number of circumcision-related fatalities in the province to 56 since the start of the winter circumcision season in June.
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"This again goes back to the fact that in this area of the Mpondo, these things are not properly done," he said.
He said the department would meet traditional leaders at a conference on the circumcision ritual to be held in Mthatha on October 13 and 14.
The conference would focus on problems in the OR Tambo region, which includes Libode. - Sapa
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