Mary Papayya

Mary Papayya

Zulu warriors and maidens are critical to the health of the nation's traditions and their roles must be revived immediately.

This was one of the resolutions taken at a two-day conference in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, which ended this week.

The conference was organised by the provincial Department of Local Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs.

Its mandate was to examine the roles of warriors and maidens in the moral regeneration of the Zulu nation.

The MEC for Local Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs, Mike Mabuyakhulu, said warriors and maidens had always served as the mentors of future generations.

He said they taught young people values such as ubuntu and decorum, and how to be a good citizen.

Delegates said warriors and maidens had a role to play in bringing back cultural and traditional values among the young.

The conference resolved that the Department of Local Government organise discussions between traditional leaders, the South African Human Rights Commission and the National Youth Commission.

"The institution of traditional leadership should promote and be the custodian of family values," the delegates said.

The conference explored indigenous methods of encouraging good sexual behaviour.

It agreed that cultural organisations should form partnerships with schools to teach pupils traditional and cultural values.

Some delegates at the conference expressed anger at the Civil Union Bill, which legalised same-sex marriages.

They said they felt the constitution was leading to the decay of traditional family values and of the Zulu culture.

"Our country is facing the challenge of HIV-Aids, which is threatening to reverse the gains we have made as a society.

"Almost all of us here have been directly or indirectly been affected by HIV," said Mabuyakhulu.