Cousins Xolile Mdingwa-Ngobe and Wezile Ngobe died of botched
circumcisions within 24 hours of each other after two weeks at an initiation
school in Lambasi village, Lusikisiki.

Mdingwa-Ngobe (26) was a carpentry, plumbing and bricklaying
student at Ingwe FET College in Lusikisiki, while Ngobe (27) was unemployed.
Their mothers are sisters.

Mourners at Mdingwa-Ngobe’s funeral in Mgungudlovu on Saturday
described him as quiet and peaceful.

Mdingwa-Ngobe’s aunt had bought a colourful blanket for his
graduation ceremony. At the ­funeral, the blanket was placed next to his
coffin.

Distraught uncle Welcome Ngobe said he only found out about
Wezile’s initiation from young men in his village.

“Mdingwa-Ngobe told an ­uncle on his father’s side, but Wezile
never told anyone,” he said. Wezile was buried at his maternal home in Lambasi
on Thursday.

He was only taken to the St Elizabeth Hospital on June 16 ­after
his cousin Mdingwa-Ngobe’s death that morning.

Wezile died the following morning at the hospital.

“Their wounds became ­septic,” Welcome said.

Their traditional nurses, ­despite seeing that the men had been
improperly circumcised by an ingcibi known only as Bhabholomhlehlo, kept them in
their hut until it was too late to save their lives.

The other 10 initiates in
their hut were all admitted to St ­Elizabeth Hospital with botched
circumcisions.

Welcome wants government to declare the situation a disaster and to
step in to assist the ­families of dead initiates.

“We’ve had to take out loans for their funerals,” Welcome
said.

loyiso.sidimba@citypress.co.za