Empower the adults

THE article “Tackling what pains a nation” (DD, December 15) refers.

Our traditions and customs have been washed away by so-called constitutional democracy which seeks to undermine the roles of traditional authority, parents and educators in the upbringing of a child to become a responsible and good citizen in a society that has a sound moral compass.

Pregnancy of young girls is a grave concern for all people of our country hence the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders launched a programme endeavouring to revive one of the long lost cultural rites (inkciyo) – virginity testing. This is to ensure that young girls do not indulge in sexual activity before marriage.

This would work by rewarding them with bursaries or scholarships to further their studies.

What kind of reward may be given to young males who maintain a responsible lifestyle throughout their youth?

Won’t they feel discriminated against together with the youth who may not have good academic aptitude?

According to me this cause, though noble, needs to be discussed openly by all stakeholders because, while it is meant to reward good behaviour for girls, it may indirectly infringe on the rights and freedom of others.

The constitution needs to be repealed – some sections of the Bill of Rights – so that it caters educators, parents and traditional authority to play a meaningful role in the upbringing of children (boys/girls) without any legal limitations.

In future, boys who impregnate a schoolgirl must be made to take full responsibility for such irresponsible sexual behaviour.

I am under the impression that in many cases; these young girls are pressured into doing this by boys who believe that sex means love.

Often a girl who says “no” to a boy faces rejection – a boy will threaten to dump her. Also peer pressure plays a role. Parents do not always take responsibility for their children coming home late in the evening and do not always know the friends of their children.

If we are to build a good society with a sound moral compass we will have to take full responsibility as a collective in order to address these social ills. — Vukile Ndudane, via e-mail