The circumcision season death toll in the Eastern Cape has risen to nine, the provincial health department said on Tuesday.
Spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the latest deaths, both in the early hours of Tuesday morning, were those of an 18-year-old youth at an initiation school in the Mount Fletcher area, and a 33-year-old at a school in the Libode area.
The exact cause of death of the 18-year-old was unknown, but was understood to be circumcision-related. The 33-year-old had had chest problems.
A 19-year-old would-be initiate had fallen sick at the school he was attending at Waterfall village in the Mthatha area, and was taken home, where he died on Sunday.
Two more deaths had been reported in the Queenstown area.
Kupelo said 12 youths were currently being treated at Mthatha General Hospital for circumcision-related problems. - Sapa