WHILE the elders are the true custodians of ilobola negotiations and normally determine the price of the bride, I find it unacceptable and rather unfair that these principal negotiators do not acknowledge the current financial crisis.

Furthermore, it presupposes that a woman who marries during these difficult times is valued much more. This can be debated in terms of a woman's worth and also the fact that women do not come with price tags. In essence ilobola is not about buying a woman but rather appeasing her family, which all men agree to culturally.

The elders need to be educated about the global economic downturn and then perhaps we might see i lobola prices going down.

Noko Manyelo, Pretoria