The Eastern Cape health department appealed on Thursday to initiation schools to ensure smooth running of the custom.
This comes after hospitals in Mthatha were inundated with young men injured from botched circumcisions.
“The All Saints hospital in Engcobo is flooded with injured initiates,” said spokesman, Sizwe Kupelo.
“They now have a total of 33 initiates and the wards are full and cannot admit anymore. They are trying to arrange referrals with neighbouring hospitals because it is also affecting their day-to-day operations,” said Kupelo.
“There are young men who are requiring treatment for septic wounds and gangrene, which points to the mismanagement of their wounds at the initiation schools. We are calling to stakeholders in traditional circumcision to ensure smooth running of the custom,” said Kupelo.
He further said that All Saints was not the only hospital in Mthatha facing the problem.
“There is no place for them at the hospital and that illustrates how bad it is in that area. The Mthatha General Hospital and the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital are feeling the same pressure,” Kupelo said. - Sapa