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A KwaZulu-Natal teenager has been taken from her parents who were allegedly planning to marry her off to an older man, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) said.

“The department of social welfare has removed the child, 14, from her home until such time that a social worker... has ascertained the safety of the child,” the CGE said in a statement.

“In terms of both the Sexual Offences Act and the Children’s Act, the CGE pointed out to both the parents and the suitor that should this marriage proceed, they would be arrested and prosecuted.” 

The commission received a anonymous complaint in November that the teenager, from KwaMthandeni, was to marry a man older than 40 on December 16.

The girl would replace her 20-year-old sister, who had been chosen by the man.

“Upon finding [out] that she is pregnant by another man, the sister ran off....

"The suitor and [her] family agreed that the younger sister should take her place,” the CGE said.

A team of social workers and policemen verified the story, found the child and spoke to the family and the suitor about calling off the marriage.

“The family and suitor confirmed that the man had paid R29,500 towards lobola and wanted either his money back or another girl.” 

Rituals had been done and the wedding day had been arranged.

“The girl’s family said they were not very keen to marry the child off, but religious leaders from their church put pressure on them,” the CGE said.

“The girl’s mother said, as a woman, she did not have much say in the matter,” it said.

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Mon May 20 05:22:30 SAST 2013 ::

Dec 4, 2012

lindsay

wow and they have big mouths to say something about ukuthwala and ukwaluka i give up on them zzzzzzzzzzz
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Dec 4, 2012

MommaC

I was expecting this to be from some place in Afghanistan or India but NEVER from SA.

When did slavery become legal in SA again?
These aren't parents, they are slave traders.
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Dec 4, 2012

Lord-Have-Mercy

so what, during Mbeki era a law was implemented that a 12 year can do abotion without her parents concern
but i suspected pressure from illuminati forcing that law to SA.

I dont believe a true african person can pass that law
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Dec 4, 2012

Zimzalabam1

One would have liked to think that we've moved way past these kind of barbaric tendencies.

Is it really about money?This child is suppose to be in school,carving her future not to be sold to the highest bidder.
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Dec 4, 2012

sowet123

Could someone explain ukuthwala for me? ke culture ya all Nkuni speaking people?
i do repect all cultures mara e a se yona ka stru .it just sound wrong in many words.
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Dec 4, 2012

Mellow

And they call it CULTURE like hell it is sis shame on the parents pimping out your teen kid to an old man for money sis, the 20 yr old didnt love this old fool and they thought replacing her with a 14yr old was the solution oohhh some ppl really and yes all this s#it start with that bloody reed dance whatever they call it they promote his nonsense hope they arrest the kids parents
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Dec 4, 2012

Laqasha

Savages!
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Dec 4, 2012

Msiphos00

Shuuuuu the mother says as a woman she does not have a say in all this - eishhhh
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Dec 4, 2012

PaPa-G

which culture is this and nogaaal a 14yr old bull***t she's still young for that
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Dec 4, 2012

Mellow

Msiphos00
Shuuuuu the mother says as a woman she does not have a say in all this - eishhhh
..............................................................................................
She's lying I bet she was more than happy to send her off knowing she'll be chowing the money what sort of a woman is she? Sis she disgusts me even more she failed to protect her child some women and their jezzabel tendecies nxaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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