43 Boys Dead in South Africa's Ulwaluko Circumcision Rites

Mass circumcision ceremonies in South Africa, known as 'Ulwaluko', have resulted in the deaths of at least 43 teenage boys and dozens more mutilated over the past three months. The ceremonies, intended to prepare young men for manhood, are often carried out by unskilled men using zero anesthetics and unsterilized blades. The rite, which involves boys being taken from their families for three weeks, has led to deaths from gangrene, sepsis, and severe dehydration. Despite laws and arrests, the practice continues. Boys under 16 are legally prohibited, but some participate under social pressure or against their will.