Maiden Bursaries: ANC must respect constitutional institutions

29 June 2016

The Democratic Alliance is disappointed at the ANC’s reaction to the Commission for Gender Equality ruling on the maiden bursary award which found that this practice is ‘unlawful, unfair, unreasonable and unconstitutional and should be discontinued’. 

The DA has always been against these awards as we believe that municipalities must support all communities regardless of their individual sexual choices. We strongly believe that these awards infringes human rights.

Enshrined in the bill of rights, no person may be unfairly discriminated against because of their sex. The enactment of the Maiden Bursary Award is by its very nature unconstitutional.

Regular virginity testing is a gross violation of privacy and diminishes human dignity. We cannot allow state structures to undermine our constitution and the women of South Africa.

By proclaiming that a woman who is not a virgin is not ‘pure’ is to intimate that a women value are somehow inextricably linked to her sexuality. In a country where women have fought long and hard for equality, reducing women to sexual objects serves as an insult to the legacy forged by those who fought tirelessly for the rights of women in South Africa.  

Wielding access to educational opportunities as a means to control female sexuality is a gross infringement of individual autonomy and feeds into the patriarchy that is an invasive part of our society.

We call upon the KZN ANC leadership to respect our constitutionally appointed institutions and abide by the ruling of the commission. 

Issued by Zwakele Mncwango, DA KZN Leader, 29 June 2016