The Eastern Cape Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department says another initiate had died, bringing to nine the number of deaths this initiation season.
Department spokesperson Mamnkeli Ngam, says the 18-year-old initiate burnt to death after his hut caught fire at an initiation school in Amalinda earlier on Wednesday.
This follows the death of another 18-year-old legal initiate who died in Mdantsane near East London on Tuesday.
Ngam said the deceased was on an asthmatic pump which he was using in the traditional school and that a witness reported that the initiate had an asthma attack.
He said the deceased was a legally registered initiate who suffers from Asthma.
According to a witness, he suffered an asthma attack and died.
Ngam says a postmortem will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
According to reports, the teenager did have an asthma pump with him at the school.
He urged all monitoring teams to ensure the safe passage to manhood. Ngam encouraged families and traditional leaders to refer any initiate, who shows a sign of ill health, to be taken to a hospital immediately.
