Maiden bursaries found unconstitutional

Leonie Pretorius

17 June 2016

The investigation by the Commission for Gender Equality on the so-called maiden bursary has been found to be unconstitutional, and must be discontinued.

The commission probed the initiative which was introduced by the uThukela municipality.

The bursary was issued to young girls on the basis of virginity.

The Commission has argued that this violates the right to equality, dignity and privacy.

However, those who have already been awarded the bursaries were asked to retain them.