At least 25 young men have died in South Africa during this year's traditional initiation season, which includes circumcision, the Eastern Cape provincial Department of Cooperative Governance confirmed to DPA, BTA reported.
At least 25 young men have died during the cultural ritual in which adolescent boys are circumcised and prepared for their adult roles.
Most of the deaths occurred in unregulated facilities, often due to a lack of medical care, authorities say.
Last year in the Eastern Cape, 38 young men lost their lives during the initiation season, which officially began in January and ended on July 22.
The ritual is deeply rooted in South African culture and practiced by groups such as the Xhosa and Ndebele. It involves circumcision and training young men in social responsibilities. However, critics have raised concerns about unregulated initiation practices.
Authorities and traditional leaders regularly call for participation only in registered schools. Since 2010, approved schools have been strictly regulated by the government. Efforts to promote medical circumcision in clinics to minimize health risks have so far met with limited success, DPA notes.