The Eastern Cape health department was investigating the deaths of two more youths at initiation schools in the province, spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said on Wednesday.

They bring the total number of circumcision-related deaths during this summer's initiation season to four.

Kupelo said both deaths occurred in eastern Pondoland, one last week and the other on Tuesday morning.

Though the causes were not known, it was suspected that the second youth died of dehydration.

He also announced that the department had approved plans to appoint full-time officials to deal with circumcision issues.

The posts, which up to now had been filled by secondment on a temporary basis, would be funded in next year's budget.

Kupelo said it had emerged that reports that parents were responsible for the 27 November death of an 18-year-old youth at an initiation school in Mdantsane were incorrect.

It had been discovered that the men running the school had refused to accept diabetes medication for the ailing youth, not, as previously reported, that the parents had failed to bring it.

He said when the parents went to the school with the medication, they were "chased away".

Kupelo said people faced with a similar situation should immediately contact the department so it could intervene before lives were lost.

Sapa