Two opposition parties on Monday came out strongly against the establishment of a bursary award based on virginity testing.
The move comes after it emerged on the weekend that the mayor of UThukela District Municipality‚ Dudu Mazibuko‚ had established a “Maidens Bursary Award” in which female matriculants would be awarded bursaries only if they were virgins‚ and remained so while receiving the funding.
Municipality spokesperson Jabulani Mkhonza said the bursaries were intended to encourage young girls to “stay pure and focus on their education”.
The Democratic Alliance and the African Christian Democratic Party on Monday released statements slamming the scheme‚ and both called for the issue to be investigated.
The DA said: “The draconian program is an affront to the right to privacy and dignity of young women as it mandates virginity testing for any woman who wishes to be a bursary holder under the program‚ precluding those who are not virgins.”
The ACDP said: “The ACDP strongly rejects the concept of municipal bursaries for young women being based on whether or not they can prove virginity.”
The DA said it would refer the matter to the Human Rights Commission‚ while the ACDP said it would call on “the Ministers of Local and Provincial Government and Higher Education to investigate and correct the situation if necessary”.
Both parties also pointed to the fact that many young women were “victims of rape‚ incest and sexual abuse” or had their “virginity is taken from them unwillingly‚ by force or coercion”.
“The DA contends that this invasive practice strips young women of their dignity‚ freedom of privacy and choice‚ and instils in them a fear of being ostracised and embarrassed for their personal choices‚ or unfortunate circumstances such as rape‚” the DA said.
“While the DA respects that virginity testing may be part of certain cultural practices‚ it is inexplicable that a government department can subject young girls to such an invasive practice under duress because they are desperate to obtain bursaries and accessing opportunities.”
The ACDP said: “While the ACDP encourages young people to abstain from sex before marriage for many reasons‚ and could reasonably expect organizations specifically promoting abstinence from sex before marriage to offer bursaries of this nature as an added incentive to delay sexual activity in young people — we are of the opinion that a municipal bursary of this nature discriminates unfairly.”
DA‚ ACDP slam 'virgin bursary award'
The move comes after it emerged on the weekend that the mayor of UThukela District Municipality‚ Dudu Mazibuko‚ had established a “Maidens Bursary Award” in which female matriculants would be awarded bursaries only if they were virgins‚ and remained so while receiving the funding.
Municipality spokesperson Jabulani Mkhonza said the bursaries were intended to encourage young girls to “stay pure and focus on their education”.
The Democratic Alliance and the African Christian Democratic Party on Monday released statements slamming the scheme‚ and both called for the issue to be investigated.
The DA said: “The draconian program is an affront to the right to privacy and dignity of young women as it mandates virginity testing for any woman who wishes to be a bursary holder under the program‚ precluding those who are not virgins.”
The ACDP said: “The ACDP strongly rejects the concept of municipal bursaries for young women being based on whether or not they can prove virginity.”
The DA said it would refer the matter to the Human Rights Commission‚ while the ACDP said it would call on “the Ministers of Local and Provincial Government and Higher Education to investigate and correct the situation if necessary”.
Both parties also pointed to the fact that many young women were “victims of rape‚ incest and sexual abuse” or had their “virginity is taken from them unwillingly‚ by force or coercion”.
“The DA contends that this invasive practice strips young women of their dignity‚ freedom of privacy and choice‚ and instils in them a fear of being ostracised and embarrassed for their personal choices‚ or unfortunate circumstances such as rape‚” the DA said.
“While the DA respects that virginity testing may be part of certain cultural practices‚ it is inexplicable that a government department can subject young girls to such an invasive practice under duress because they are desperate to obtain bursaries and accessing opportunities.”
The ACDP said: “While the ACDP encourages young people to abstain from sex before marriage for many reasons‚ and could reasonably expect organizations specifically promoting abstinence from sex before marriage to offer bursaries of this nature as an added incentive to delay sexual activity in young people — we are of the opinion that a municipal bursary of this nature discriminates unfairly.”
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