The controversial Maiden Bursary Award may be up for discussion once again according to eThekwini Regional Task Team member of the ANC Women’s League, Saroj Govender.
Govender was speaking at an event hosted by the non-profit Mabuyi Youth Organisation at Amandlethu Secondary School in Inanda when she said that the ANCWL has approached government about the bursary.
Govender, who is also a member of the provincial South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), said: “The Women’s League has proposed to government that if a girl keeps herself pure until she finishes matric, government will pay for their first degree. Same applies to a boy if he does not impregnate a girl until he finishes matric, his degree will also be paid for provided that they produce good results to enter university”.
In 2016 the Maidens Bursary Award sparked controversy when the uThukela District Municipality, in northern KwaZulu Natal, awarded 16 maidens the bursary to further their education. According to the conditions of the award, “they (the recipients of the bursaries) must be ‘virgins’, which is determined by a specific and invasive test carried out twice a year. If they ‘fail’ the test then they lose the bursary.”
The then mayor, Dudu Mazibuko, defended the bursaries citing them as a way to “reduce HIV, Aids and unwanted pregnancy” among girls in the district. The chairperson and the founder of the Mabuyi Youth Organisation which is based in Ward 49 in Phoenix, Siviwe Benya encouraged the learners to “be champions of change starting from their homes, schools and the communities at large”.
“They are the only one who will bring changes to the current challenges faced by their community such as, crime, hunger, unemployment, early pregnancy and poverty,” said Benya.
He said challenges faced by the community, such as the recent KZN floods, the Covid-19 pandemic and KZN’s unrest left everyone hopeless. “We believe these learners who represent young people of the nation will rise above challenges faced and they will be successful people beyond their education process,” said Benya.
The organisation handed over certificates of appreciation to learners and donated school shoes to needy learners from disadvantaged households.
