S. Africa’s ANC Criticizes Circumcision Investigation

Article here. Excerpt:

'South Africa’s ruling African National Congress criticized the slow pace of a police investigation into the death of 35 young men during traditional initiation ceremonies.

Twenty-nine boys and young men 13 years to 21 years old died in the eastern Mpumalanga province during this year’s rituals that involve circumcisions, police spokesman Colonel Leonard Hlati said in a phone interview today. Another six died in the northern Limpopo province, according to the ANC.

“While we are fully supportive of the practice of initiation, we believe it should not be a death sentence to so many young people,” the ANC said in an e-mailed statement today.