Virginity Bursary Awards are sparking controversy and causing national outrage in South Africa.
The Uthukela District Municipality in Kwazulu Natal province, has come under fire for offering scholarships to a handful of college-aged girls, only if they can prove they are virgins.
Many critics have branded the bursary as misogynistic and unconstitutional, with Dudu Mazibuko, the district’s mayor, being the main target of criticism.
Mazibuko however insists the programme stems from prevalent health issues: half the district’s young women are either teen mums or infected with HIV.
“Two, three our even four children at the age of 25. So we need to do something as a country, as a society. So as a leader in this community, it’s my responsibility that we do something for these young girls,” Mazibuko said.
Despite the backlash, the mayor is fast gaining supporters in other provinces. In Tembisa township in Johannesburg for instance, a virgin group, the Amatshitshi Empela group, fully supports the scheme, and hopes to soon be giving out bursaries.
For the young women beneficiaries, abstinence has become the only way to win the battle against South Africa’s huge teen pregnancy and HIV problem, and despite controversy it’s the way they’ve found to embrace their culture and focus on education.
