YOUNG maidens from eDumbe in Zululand have made a passionate plea to government and human rights activists to let them practise their tradition of virginity testing freely.
The young women took exception to human rights organisations and government calling for an end to under-age virginity testing.
They were speaking during the 2010 Umhlanga tour held at Bilanyoni Stadium in eDumbe on Saturday. The tour is a precursor to the annual reed dance that will be held at King Goodwill Zwelithini's eNyokeni Palace in Nongoma next weekend.
Thousands of young maidens are expected to gather at the Royal Palace to celebrate the annual tradition which encourages young girls to abstain from engaging in sex until they are married. Only those considered to be virgins are allowed to participate by being "examined by experts".
When it is found that their hymen is still intact, they are then allowed to participate and those found not to be virgins are excluded.
Zinhle Fakude, 17, from Paulpietersburg said she did not mind being tested. "It is an achievement to be a virgin. The tradition teaches me about who we are and what our values are. Naturally, a young girl is a rose in her family, community, clan and nation. So we are proud to be among the virgins," she said.
Mbali Myeni, 18, from Nkonkotho, Zululand, said the challenges faced by the youth can easily be dealt with if they remained committed to keeping their bodies pure.
"The scourge of HIV-Aids is killing children as young as 15. If this tradition was compulsory, this would not happen. Government should stop interfering with our culture and let us practise it with pride and in peace.
"The people who claim to advocate children's rights and are against this tradition must stay away from us because this is our pride as the Zulu nation," she said.
Meanwhile, the provincial arts and culture department warned that those taking "inappropriate" pictures at the reed dance will be arrested.
Arts and culture spokesperson Vukani Mbhele said: "Security will be moving around. They will arrest anyone suspected of taking indecent pictures."
The department has allocated R4million towards the event.
Virginity testing is our right - maidens
YOUNG maidens from eDumbe in Zululand have made a passionate plea to government and human rights activists to let them practise their tradition of virginity testing freely.
The young women took exception to human rights organisations and government calling for an end to under-age virginity testing.
They were speaking during the 2010 Umhlanga tour held at Bilanyoni Stadium in eDumbe on Saturday. The tour is a precursor to the annual reed dance that will be held at King Goodwill Zwelithini's eNyokeni Palace in Nongoma next weekend.
Thousands of young maidens are expected to gather at the Royal Palace to celebrate the annual tradition which encourages young girls to abstain from engaging in sex until they are married. Only those considered to be virgins are allowed to participate by being "examined by experts".
When it is found that their hymen is still intact, they are then allowed to participate and those found not to be virgins are excluded.
Zinhle Fakude, 17, from Paulpietersburg said she did not mind being tested. "It is an achievement to be a virgin. The tradition teaches me about who we are and what our values are. Naturally, a young girl is a rose in her family, community, clan and nation. So we are proud to be among the virgins," she said.
Mbali Myeni, 18, from Nkonkotho, Zululand, said the challenges faced by the youth can easily be dealt with if they remained committed to keeping their bodies pure.
"The scourge of HIV-Aids is killing children as young as 15. If this tradition was compulsory, this would not happen. Government should stop interfering with our culture and let us practise it with pride and in peace.
"The people who claim to advocate children's rights and are against this tradition must stay away from us because this is our pride as the Zulu nation," she said.
Meanwhile, the provincial arts and culture department warned that those taking "inappropriate" pictures at the reed dance will be arrested.
Arts and culture spokesperson Vukani Mbhele said: "Security will be moving around. They will arrest anyone suspected of taking indecent pictures."
The department has allocated R4million towards the event.
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