Virginity Testing

Contents
1 Ukuhlolwa kwezintombi
2 Izifundo
3 Izimpawu zobuntombi-nto
4 English Summary

Ukuhlolwa kwezintombi
Esikhathini sakudala namanje, KwaZulu izintombi zazihlolwa, zihlolwa ukuthi zisengamatshitshi yini noma cha. Itshitshi yintombazame egcwele engakaze ithintwe noma ilale nomuntu wesilisa. Ukuhlolwa kwezintombi kuyisiko, kodwa akekho umuntu ophoqwayo ukuba ayohlolwa.
Kuyaye kuqokwe omama asebekhulile abathenjwayo emphakathini noma bazinikele bona ukwenza lomsebenzi wokuhlola izintombi. Kukhethwa omama ababili esigodini abaqoqa izingane zamantombazane kusukela eminyakeni eyisishiyagalombili kuya phezulu. Bayaziqoqa baziyise endaweni ephephile okungaba ikhaya lomunye womama noma isezikhungweni zabo zokuhlanganela. Abazali bezingane bavumelekile ukuphelezela izingane zabo.

Izifundo
Kunezifundo ezibakhona eziphathelene nendlela yokuziphatha kwengane yentombazane uma ikhula. Ezinye zezinto abafundiswa zona ukungena esigabeni sokuya esikhathini (ukuthomba) lapho intombazane isuke iphuma ebunganeni ingena ebutshitshini. Iyaxwayiswa ngezinto ezingenzeka kuyo uma isikulesisigaba. Bafundiswa nendlela ekufanele bakhulume ngayo nomuntu wesilisa uma eshela, phela uma intombazane isingene esigabeni sokukhula nezinsizwa ziyaqala zibeke amaganyana intombi ehlolwayo ifundiseke kahle ukuthi kumele iphendule ithini uma insizwa iyishela. Ziphinde zifundiswe ukuthi uma usuqomile ubuvikela kanjani ubuntombi bakho, ukusoma lapho ulele nomuntu wesilisa uphambanisa imilenze uvale amathanga. Uzigcina uyintombi uze ufike esigabeni sokuthi ushade.

Izimpawu zobuntombi-nto
Intombi iba nokusahlo elimhlophe esithweni sayo sangasese. Omama bazilalisa phansi ngomhlane, intombi ivule amathanga babheke ukuthi lisekhona yini ihlo, uma lingasekho akuseyona intombi-nto. Intombi-nto uma isihloliwe ibekwa ichashazi elimhlophe esiphongweni ukutshengisa ukuthi isagcwele, ziphinde zinikwe nezitifiketi njalo ngonyaka. Ziyahuba izintombi zihlabelele amahubo esintu, zisine zigide kube kuhle kubemnandi, bakikize omama ziphindele emakhaya izintombi.
Ubuhle bokuhlolwa kwezintombi ukuthi kwaziwe ngesikhathi uma intombi seyonakele ukuze kuyobikwa lapho yoniwe khona bese lowo osuke onile ahlawula futhi ageze nomuzi.

English Summary
Virginity testing has been practiced for a long time. Zulu people take pride in this cultural ceremony. Young girls are tested from the ages of eight and upwards. Old women are selected or can volunteer in their areas as virginity testers. On monthly basis, young girls are taken to a safe place, this can be community centre’s or houses of these women. Each girl is tested to see if they are still virgins. A white mark on their foreheads symbolises that they are still virgins.

They are also taught life skills, behaviour and on how to talk to a man who wants to court them. They are encouraged to keep pride in their virginity. The good thing about virginity testing is that, when it is noticed that a girl is no longer a virgin, it is easy to know who did it so that the family can claim for the damages and the man involved can pay and cleanse the homestead.

By: Bongiwe Ndlovu