JOHANNESBURG -- The so-called maiden bursary has been found to be unconstitutional and must be discontinued.
According to an investigation by The Commission for Gender Equality, the awarding of so-called virgin bursaries in KwaZulu-Natal is discriminatory.
The commission probed the initiative which was introduced by the uThukela municipality.
VIDEO: CheckPoint: Maiden bursary
They have established the decision to issue bursaries to young girls on the basis of virginity, violates the right to equality, dignity and privacy.
The report has also found that the bursary scheme amounts to discrimination, because it fails to impose the same responsibility on boys.The Gender Commission must apply to the ConCourt for direct access and ask for a declaratory. Only way they will stop this #MaidenBursary— Matlapeng (@MikeMatlapeng) June 17, 2016
Halala! Virginity testing: Gender equality commission bans ‘maiden bursaries’ | Daily Maverick https://t.co/ckknwtBasN— Gugulethu Mhlungu (@GugsM) June 17, 2016
VICTORY! No more maiden bursaries says the Commission for Gender Equality. Read: https://t.co/v61EtZ9zbV pic.twitter.com/u3rcXQBbiA— Amandla! (@AmandlaMobi) June 17, 2016
Those who have already been awarded maiden bursaries should be allowed to retain them, without virginity as a condition.
Source: eNCA
