In a deeply reported, all-formats piece, Mogomotsi Magome and video journalist Alfonso Nqunjana penetrated a long-standing culture of silence to reveal the human cost of traditional circumcision rites in South Africa.
While official figures have documented high death tolls among boys and young men attending remote initiation schools, the personal stories behind those numbers are rarely told. Families are often unwilling to speak publicly due to the secrecy surrounding the ceremonies and their cultural significance.
Through weeks of persistent outreach and trusted local sourcing, the team secured a rare and sensitive interview with a family whose son died during the rites. Their story brought urgency and humanity to an issue that is frequently reduced to statistics.
Supported by senior producer Nqobile Ntshangase and assistant news director Gerald Imray, the reporting expanded to examine the risks posed by unregistered initiation schools and the lack of oversight in a system rooted in tradition.
The result was a powerful account that transformed a recurring public health crisis into a deeply personal and culturally nuanced story.
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