We respect commission findings on 'virginity bursaries': ANCWL

The commission has found that the Maidens Bursary Programme, which saw 16 women awarded bursaries to study at tertiary institutions on condition they remain virgins, is discriminatory and goes against the Constitution. 

The young women were told they would have to undergo a virginity test every school holiday to keep their bursaries.

Spokesperson for the league, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu says they still believe the municipality's heart was in the right place when it took the decision to award the bursaries.

"From where we are sitting, we believe that the municipality was trying to come up with a creative way of encouraging young women in particular to go to school, but also to deal with the challenges in that area, which are challenges of teenage pregnancy and challenges of HIV and AIDS," she said. 

The commission's Javu Baloyi says those who've already been given bursaries will keep them.

"But going forward, this will change. We believe that it was a noble idea, however, as long as it is against the Constitution of the country, on the basis of gender, we are against it. And remember, our recommendations are binding," Baloyi said.  

In January, UThukela Mayor Dudu Mazibuko defended the bursaries, saying they were only meant to encourage young girls to abstain from sex and focus on their education.