Two young lives were lost on Friday after two young men who attended initiation schools and were recently circumcised, died. The first victim passed away at a clinic in Verena while the second victim died at the initiation school he was attending in the Laersdrift precinct.

The the Mpumalanga police says Thomas Ntuli (19) was taken to a clinic in Verena by his family at 03:30 on Friday. Ntuli was circumcised and reported complications while attending an initiation school. He died while receiving medical attention.

Verena police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.

Police say the second incident in Laersdrift happened hours later on the same day. It is suspected that the that Sibusiso Masombuka also died due to complications brought on by circumcision.

Masombuka (18) underwent a circumcision procedure a day before his death.

Police say that he complained about feeling dizzy at around 06:00 on Friday morning. He was taken aside to catch is breath. Masombuka’s parents as well as an ambulance were called to the scene after his condition deteriorated. He passed away on the scene.

An inquest docket was opened.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, sent her sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. She asked for space for the investigation team to probe both incidents.