Uhlolwa

In KwaZuluNatal virginity testing was something that grannies did. But in recent years it has become a growing phenomenon. Something which may become less popular again, now that the present government is driving a national campaign to educate people about HIV/AIDS and how to prevent the disease.

As a result of the devastation brought by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, virginity testing enjoyed the distinction of being the most popular – and politically charged - public health initiatives in KwaZuluNatal’s battle with the pandemic. The infection rate for young women in Africa is far higher than the rate for young men.

President Zuma, a Zulu, has personally attended a virginity testing ceremony, endorsing the practice as a way to shield African values against the corrosive effects of Western civilization. The issue pitted officials from South Africa’s Commission on Gender Equality against Zulu leaders, male and female, who saw a new legislation as an attack on ancient tribal culture and family values.

While virginity testing was a prenuptial custom previously associated with marriage, proponents of testing now maintain that – with its emphasis on total abstinence from sexual intercourse by girls - the practice is being revived to prevent HIV infection and AIDS. Also, many rural women in KZN – perhaps the most marginalized group - find that being a virgin gives them a feeling of self-respect and pride. Testing of children below the age of 16 yrs has been outlawed by 2008 legislation, but it is still practiced. One reason given is that it‘s a way to detect sexual abuse and incest.

Public labelling of girls as virgins is not without danger. Some S. African researchers attribute the increase in sexual violence against very young girls. Presumed virgins, to a belief that sexual intercourse with a virgin can ‘cleanse’ HIV positive men or men with AIDS, of the disease. Also, opponents fear that virginity testing may have the unintended effect of increasing the risk of adolescent HIV infection because it may encourage young people to engage in even more risky conduct, like anal sex rather than genital sex to avoid detection of their sexual activities.

South Africa has the difficult task of balancing cultural rights with other human rights laid down in the constitution. The struggle over virginity testing is unique in that it promotes a return to traditional culture as a public health prevention measure. But virginity testing will not end the HIV/AIDS pandemic, just as bans on virginity testing will not effectively end testing. But with the present government’s nationwide campaign to educate people about HIV/AIDS, illiberal self help solutions, alternative medication and virginity testing may become a less popular option as a way to prevent the disease. (E.R. George “Like a virgin?” associate professor of law at University of UTAH - as used by Ellen Elmendorp in her statement)