'Girls' and virginity: making the post-apartheid nation state

'Girls'andvirginity: Makingthe post-apartheid nationstatel Benita deRobilard abstract Beqinnns wlh a d scusson ol debaresab.ui v e nity testins ce.emones and rhei br efiy r€1e.iins on d s.ourses abour ieen preqnancy,ths artice coisiders how, whx and to whal consequence rhe liaure ol re'sn€svrsin crcutarng . onre m p o r a r y S o u l h A l rca n m e d ia s.a p e sism o b ise d a sa r e sol rc€ntheprodu.ri oi .l i heposri pafthednati onstate?T,, anayssrefersto butmovos i an.rh€f d re.tion, recent debatesaboot revvilied virgnty tesins p.actces 3 tpropos€ thal redu c r n ! t h e d s c u s s o n ab o u r vn o ityi€ *n sto a co n ie sta to n b e tueenrw oapparei ti yncommensucl €'posroost'cul urts v ers u s r s h t s l m i s s e s a n m p o ta itp o ,n i lsu q q e sr lh a tse ftln !u prr€debare n rh s w ay does nol i ake ntoaccounthow rE ons araundvnsin1y tesrns,lnou!h rhe nrodu.roi ol lrie chidrensAct, and its emphass on'ab s r n e n c € , f o . m s p a r to Jwh a la yse Pa r a l2 0 0 l) ca lsth e ' p ol i l l csol l postl modori ryandi rsnov€modesol subl €cti o' socia conlro, and bodiy d sc pln6" throuohwh.h t anempls to assen its sovereqnry over rhe so.a arena keywords g rhood, sexuariry, v.qinly reslns, absl nenc€educarion,pon apanhed sbte '' T hey m is ht as w e a rre s t me . l N e s o n l Mandelawent to jail for what he believedin and when he got out, everybodyaccepted his views were not so stiange. N,4aybe they wi realisev rg nlt/ testing s meant to buid our nat lon,not d e s tro y t' l T h e mb iSi b i s , ar umhlal. cred in Fikie Nrs keieto Moya, 'The Virqinry Tesrel. Mait & cuafllian,2329 September2005). 'Grb'a '' havealw€yswo.deredwhatvrglnitytestng, andoihermeansoi monitorng the sexualityof young peope, does to the sirls slbjected to it. A pa.t of the answerto that qlestion came a few weeks ago when tead Arcath,Eyes, Memory. a shockng novel by the Haitian wrter Edwige Danticat.The namtor of the story s a Haitangn calledSophiewho. sinc€ the age of around12, has been sLrbjected to u4n4 Nlakis rireposlapadheid oaronnde I campE !n i some sxhosa mor: .egenerati on and s Z! !-speakng comm!nt es, L. trrh.h . vrq.i ry testef r.spectsi he' gr' chi Lo' s hvmen and n so dong makesa determnaton 30oLr he. chasti ty' TessaMarcl s notes that !rgni y l estrnq" h.s been fer.vent€dby oder i srz!! speaklngwomen who berr a drspropotronare 536) Fl ona sh€reof the bl rdenof A D S ' 12008: ' q! ntessent.v post S corges.ys tl rat rt s a aparl he{iphenome.oneptoml sl ngthe tersons ng socety, !!hch prodl ces a of a tfari sl orm fof sendereq!a tv debatethalpaces' afg!ments l . oppostl onto a' def€nceof cl l tura .ghts n a mannerthat .esonatesw Lth sm ar .onl ds betw ee. ' moder.l i y'aqd vadton smme.ng on the ! oba nage i 2006 2l ) e sel vhere A thol gh th s debatehasnots nrmefeddow . the practce w as l egay reg! ated w hen the C h dren' sA ct w as pron!gated Ths egsati oo ' s e !!a ty c a .l rema n a g e d € .d n e g o i ated srp!ares that o.i y chi l dre.'ol er the age oJ nev efc o .tro e d . T h .t mu c i rw e s h o l l d have l 6 m€y pari rcp.1e n these ceremonresThs s on condi on th€l the gtrl ' consentsto l re learned irom the fa lre of ttre mmora 1v A c r , w h L c htr-" d to e g s .1 e s e x l v e s (Fred practl cea.d thal her status as ethef vl rgrn' K h! m a l o ,D e g ra d aoti n | re n a meo Tl e enage or non-vfgl n s nol sg.aed by ..y mafkri g o. her body A ddi l onay, her statl s .an onv se!!3 mora ty surday Ines. Jllv 3 2005) be pub.y dl scosed w l h her conse.t Ths €q sl anonrotw thsl andi .g,ned a reportsappear 'The Zul! Foya flolse s not razedbv tne eachsepl enrberw hch bol h des.rbe and rase Y olng C o m m l ns t L e a g l e s c o mme ntsthat and 1s q!estonsabouithe R eedD anceceremonv t s an n l a lF e ,a dD a n c ei s o l td a i e da .d sexl st pra.t ces.5 ty testn9 v rg. T he L e a g l e s s p o k e s m a nC a s troN -6obese, attendant Tesie.sassertthat the pract.e a ows the.. s ald t h s \te e k th a t y o l n g g rs w e fe oeng to setueas mentorsTorthe yo!nger women ano coefced nto erpos ng thetr gentas uider tl rat the ceremo.i es' encou.agepfde . oca p ro m o tn g c !i ura o u td a te d t he p re l e tt o l hei i tageand deni ty by resi orl nqth€ fepe.tore pr a. t c e s S p e a k n s o . b e h a f o f rh e Z!! cf ndlse.oLrsc! llral t.ow edse (Scofsie,2006: P,rn c e s sT h e m b i N d L oto v ! d Ihe Roy a l H o u s e 26) l/larc!s observesthst !kuhlal'eakwezntamb th a l tn e L e a g u ew a s e n i i e o 1o l s I m es " € deep-rooted.oncer. of femae comm!ni cates is a democra.v op n o. becausesolth Afrlca v ( g. t y i e s t f! b y h e rmo th e rw h o s l i d eshei I t t lel. q e r n i o th e g r' s p fv a (ep a d sto ml ]ke s lf e t i i e h y m e n s .ra .t T h e n ro th e tf h.ks t h s s a v (!o !s a n d p ro p e .w a y o r m aK rng her q r fespe.t her sexla iy as sne moves l.to ad! thood Afte. a , th s tesl ng has been c ar r ie do l t fo r g e n e 6 tro .s ,n o t o n v rn ner f am y b l t L nh e rs e c to no f H ata n s o c e tv ''ln a momentol what many m gnt relard as lnsanity,the g r fetches. bfoomstck an'r p ! . ge s t n roh e r e s s e .c e b , re a K n gn e ro!!n v r g. t y fs a p o w e .f! y e t s h c c k .g a.t ol a g a n s l h e f n ro i h e t h e f c!r!re r ebe o n and ir e r .o m m !. t\r' s e :p e .ta to n s or ner Evenbelorereadng th s book,I was opposeo lo v r g n ry te s tn g . F o w e v e f,u n n readLng Brcalh Eyes, l\,4ematy ha\1neve. lholght of t he p o s sb e p s l c h o o g l c adl a m a g etestng blt th e fo y a s a re n o t b o th e re db v t at a l N v a s h n rN a n ..d N k o s a n aL ekotl oo ' Dont Me s sw th V l q i n T e n to ry , fh e Imes, S epte mb e2r6 .2 0 0 8 ) V r gnlt y l e s tn g l ' ra sb e € n l s e d a s p a l t of a e ders w ho l ry to sl rengl nen asse(Lveyo!thl! behavo!r a.d reversesonreo1 th€ delasiatrngca!ses of dor.estc br€akdown' 5361N omagl g! N sobesei ol nder oi rhe 12008: C ul t!raandY ol th Orqansal o. N omkh!bl l w ane s one of i he more pl b cy vsl bl e adl ocat€sol F 2 2 c tf the practce.She promotesv rg nty test ng on the gro!nds th.t dr "p.omotes abstlnence,redlces H V .lectionsrand he ps testersdetectinstances of sexua ablse a.d r€pe lcited ln N vashnrNat and NkasanaLekotloo, Ihe Ines, 26 September 2008an d c o m m e n l sm a d ed !rn q a n a ppeafance on En.olnrersSABC2, 3 F€brla.v20081 V rg n tytest ng s detraclorsh gh ght a nlmbet of c o. t r s dc l o .s a n dc o n c e rnass s o .a te dw th the pr ac t c€N . !m e ro !ss c h o a rsh a v el d e n tiedthese s s ! €s ,a n d c a n n o re t h e a fs th e e rna w i thi . the scope of this paper.tHowever,it ls necessaryto pr ov des o n res e n s eo f th e b a c k d foaps an stw hl ch Madal a t hs pa p e r s w rtte n S!2 a n n eL e c l e rc ir as c on d u c te de x te .s v e re s e a rc hi n to vrgnty t es t lng ' s re e me rg e .c e l n th e K w a ZLrlNual al regon. Sheaversthatlt playlsldangerolsy c ose to o.al prelldrcesthat blamedgirls and women J or t he s p re € do f H IV (c te d n S c o rse,2006 21) E s e w h e res h e h a sa .g L reth d E tth e s e' v rgl n' .o m modl es bodiesb e c o mes o c a y p ri v i l e g e d within a ma*et economy,and lirar lhis pr! eged s t at ls ,i n tu rn ,p a c e stl rey o !n gw o m e nat rsk i or b. ldek d i a p p i .q 'a n d ra p ed l e to tl re myth l hat s ex wt h a v r!n re v e rs e sF IV n fe c to n l A nri ta Parashar,'Where a.gels lear 10 rtea.l, Mail an.l Glard,an6 12 Alglst 2004)i Ngo b e s eh a s s ad th a i b o y s€ re 3 s o l estedl but that ihe medladonl fepo.t on th s ! ndeed, v lr glnli yte s tn g l s m o s t v i s i b y ftu a l i sedn the a. . Lr a R e e d D a n c e n w h l .h !p to 30 000 vlrgl.s appearbeforethe ZurLrK ng and to wh ch m a ns t fe a mme d l a p 3 y c o .s d e ra b e a ttenton ln t f ac k i n grh € s e re p o rtsa n d re s e a r ch€bol t the top. have not yet found representatio.s of bots' be nq tested. t s g r bodies thai are s Lr s c e p ti bto e a n o p tc s d e s g n e dto de.i pl rer s gis o| v n g . V ; a .d 1 0k e l p ro d l c e' v r! n ty rs an eprstemrccategory In the po tlca cont€slatlonabolt the valueor det rm e n ta e ffe c tso f tl rs p ra c tc € th e g r body bec ome sh y p e rv sb e a n d .i rc ! a t€ sa s a sgn, or r alhera c rp h e ri n tow h c h d l fe re n tp o tc a val l es and l !dgments are i scr bed Lecerc Mad€ a and S corge l r.ve consstentl yvoced dol bts abolt v r! n ty testings fole in clrbing the H V pandem. Resusctains Dkohlalwak||ezintanbt and lLrsng 1 w1h a mora e.onomy conslltuted throlgh the reg! arionoi gln bodes, they argLre, does not addressthe modes of thl nk.g a.d b-" havouithat s pay a defn i l ve roe l n s!stal ni ng the hgh H V l nfecton€tes t doesnot addfess the sex!. c!t!res and contextsw thn w hi .l r yol i g w ome. oper€teand w h.h they are not a w sysabe to.avl gare. w €ysth€1e.ha..ethen 'Girl-as-virgin' as politicalresource By haling the reader enter tlr s arlice throlgh € j !xtapost o. oi d vergenl pe.spectveson v rg n ty resring, do nol nxe.d ro proceedwlh anaysi s contaned w th n tl re pfobl ematcr ghts/ c!tl fe dchotomy l t i s commoncal se that ths conceptl a tenson s evi denti n rhe meshnqs of set genderra.e and l mpovershmeftn the poslapadhed set1.g F€therl w anl l o h:ghghr whar sett nq up the debate n tirs way does nor take nto accolnl Drawlngon Ayse Pa a's (2001) anaysis ol nvo lntary lirgln ty test nq ( VI) €dm nisteredby the Tlrksh state, proposethat red!.i ng the dscl ssi on abol t vi .qnty testng . Solth Airca 10 € conteslatio. belween lwo posi ti o.€tes nrsses ostensi byncommens!rate V i rsi n bodi es become soci al l y pri vi l esed commodi ti es w i thi n a market economy Pafa mapsthe polticalt! |b! enceafolnd IVT n the Tuksh .ontext and demonstrates how it s depoyedas a te.hnoogy,togetherw th otlre.s,that prodLrces the modern'Turlish .€tionst€te (2001 65 84) Wh re thereare very sig.ifc€nt d ffere.ces betweenthe states use ol w n Turkeya.d the staies ro€ n c rclmscrbingukuhlaluakwezintanbl !:.53i ( j 'Li r l l ,l ;i l ql | .i .s .nrl irl.ryo n S.!th Alrcd, I botr .o.t-p:l. 1re sta le ls s lnr es a r o - a . r e! ! a: n9 ! r b . d e . . f r l sctla t es : . d lh. s c d lef gen. es po. 3 e s , w o ! d argre have . diar po tca efl-aris ..""th fesre.t tc tlr e s iiit es . apac t v t o nr . t er ! s e t n o l q h 1 s reg! atof of the q f .. .l':r body I Par . s es t nr . l. ) n ar glm ent s bo t h n f a v o l r oi an d agar s t VT ; i: e ' t wo s des of L h . s a m € iato na s 1 c o. ' lr d \ r T r ls r be v . w e d a s a Fa n. ! . r y . iode: i lc r m ot ns ln r i o - a z e d t o s e. lr e t he. , ! lr ol t q e m . d - a r . ..rl/b!t .r.ste lr om . n; las h oned . ! ilre nro dc r nz . t on pr . le. r tenr bar ied on b! r h . T ! r k s t l la ton a s i e I - 4 r . . ns eqlenc e the " s t : t e s r olt . z ed nt r ls . . s he s d l s t r . i .to lomen s i! ndam enl. r lc e r o f r s bo de s . om pr s . s . fesorr.e . ltre prod!.tor.T the mol.fn raton .o1s der !!hat i s rhatrhe s qn state T. r. sij.d ol the v r! n ! | s mea.t to s.c!re. To do th s, l \ ! a s s l n r e , r a t h e l l r a n r e h e a E e , a t h - e ss a b c ! 1 g.nder ard ialo.. su '6n1' bodies and sexualities and the nation L e l ! s 'e t ! f f r T o f . m o m e n l a t h e . o m m e . t s t . a L o p e n e dt h s a f t . e t o b r . _ o f t o r o . . s t h e : m a r gr.!rds o,r tr,h,.n .re made these .o!.re.ty !r.onne.red.ams n e . . h n s t a . c e t f e '! f b o d y s L , s , " na s i j f h e t o r . a d e ! . r e t o a d v a r . e r r e p a r t . ! a r v e w i h e s D e a i - e r s / w r r es h a l e a b o l r 't h e . ! r c r ' F.fThenn S. !,, rh. rnrh/.1 1re:t-.rt, ! r g . t y t e s t n ! s n r - e r n li o b ! d o l r n a r . . a r i nol dcstrc! t !!h e Fred Krlnra o retecrs rtr. s.ve,e ! r ' nc a nr oler s . . a r e! r or s i. r h e l a m e ot thc nat on' 12001 €668) . nd t h: t a | | e n ] p r s D6.tce he .oneih.ess asse.ts th!1 t.c st.te h a s a i o e 1 0 p : y f 'm a i a g . _ o l f d r e q ! a r . ! r at r.lor m ! at nq t he r c . of r h€ s r ale t r e s s i o . a serla iy This ;s a regulalory role that the modern nation state adopts through irs control over girls'bodie5 re.o gi t on. t lr e r t er lent c ns 01: t . t - . s l!5r tn os e dee- ed b. r bar . or lr ; aio- a !es, d- a. t t es . nd b. de. . i . ! r onn nr-e .h; r . t r r s . f t he ' nr or ler n r lt or s t ar e Tli s s a feor 31.1, .o rlr.i rhe nodenr n.r o. -" s1 .1. ad. Ft s t ir r ollllr t s . c r 1f . oler q I s ' l r o dc s s VT or , lor r s t a n . e So, . l 1ler ef . c s a s . 1 e , I s th : as pe. l ol Pa as a. a! . s ihat s ! s e l ! i.r th nk i g ! bo! t t he r oe he lr y r er F a , , , : ! r r . . nll0 f and s t at e m - . r . ! | pos t ap: r r h ed s o l r h Airica n t hs ar t . - . , r . le. t on h. w i h e f ! l ! f € ot tire ' g r a: r r ! f ' s r ob bellveef rhe Le.!!e a.d lhe Z!! Ro,,,a H o r s - e , C . s i f o l . . l q o b e s e. a s v r g i i l i ! r e s r i o 'a n o l i d a t e o p r . . t . e a n . l . 5 o . l o r g effe.ts. . vergefr rerFo:a s.be.1s s en . s a p o r . a r. rde r.-e Commlilis norhe s t at e, : l, ! . . t r . s ons be. . m e p . s s r i i c a bst ne. . e edJ c at on Yo!i! . ! . s f i a s t b e t , , e e . r l - a i - et w c p o t . a trfo!g _ r pFr . ! r at o. of t r , r at s der ir i f e d a s r h e 'rfad iton. r r eoc c lp. t . n ! ! nr w. nier s ! . q n t y .to :h-a load.r '6irerork of t.rc fegr :r.ry whe tlr er r he . s lr ! f r . nt n the verbal sp!rfFg mai.r and for . lfe par t . ! ar . as e o v r ' : lr 1, , , er a, nn 3 t . . s . . l th ei!r ls h Ff.sJm:b y th s !!o! d l ] r c l i L r s s e : i a t ! s n . - ar h s s i h e L , o d !t h ; l 3 I r t l e s l o n . n s a n ay s s nstllt.r5 nrarkers N ! l o b € s e. o n s l n r c t a 3 f a s s o . r t . n i i - . t w e e f i f e Leagle h-. repre:icr:s a_d a po l.s ol iliLrfirt/ b! ns n!;t.! ifat the z! ! Floy. Ho!s. s ba.kwar.l . . r n ! a n d f e t r o q r e s s! - . . [a.r sp€ake males a cor]e.ton b-err!.cn q r 'b o d e s a r . s - e r ! ! 1 . s . . . tire f.1.i Gir bcd es :re i.,aretcre nstr!me"ta se.l to esiabish . s e f e s o T . o - a s t sb e : - e e i t h . . p e a i . i s ! s o n oi .o l.s !n.l o:re. nr:.ri!res, u r l rc l r a r e a l i - a w e da s r € a . r o n : r y S e l i . g ! p p o r . a d e t r . i e s aDolt v ! rt,r' testng n rirs wa\r Fr.d!.res a rh.tofi.a led . rllr. tfre gr , h-.r bod\, aid rref setla 1! are rnea.t tc :ay ..nre1lrra abc!1 1re oosl.p!rireo n.t.n 51.ie r.rh.r thev a r e m e " : . t i o s ! r a i e 1 h - p .L l r e p r c s e n . e , o r r h e a b s e n . e ,o i t s 'm o d e . t y a p f o i r e n ! d e e m e dr o be. ec e s s a ry 1 o rth ec o n s ttL rl oann dp e rl ornance oi s ov e reg n n a n o n .e s s E a. h p e rs p e c ti v ere q !re s s o n re i orm of k iowed g e a b o l t g rs a n d rh e n s e rl a t agency T he. ar o n s ra rem € re fas e s n l s d e a ti sed form ihr oughtre F a rri c !a r a l b e t d ff€ fe n rl yinfecred ior m s o t i m a i ln n g a n d re g ! a ri .q ' g r' bodtes and s ex l a l i te s Ev e rys l a re m€ npr o s rs a roe tor |r e s t ate n th e s l rv e a n c e a n d p ro p e r fegu:ron ol the 'g fl ch d s body Ol course lhrs s an ' ro n stare n es s e. t a l e a tu reo l rh € ' mo d e .n .a th s respecl,the afglments . lavo!r ol 'lradiron and t ir e ' s i re ri g tha n d h e i rrh o f th e n aronare m p. ale d . tl re p ro c e s s eosl ma k n grh e naron s t at e' m o d e fn T hs re l a ri o n sphi s e v d e nr n the c om m e n ts ma d e b yP fn c e s s T h e mb N d tov!w ho adv oc a t€ 'strn d to n a l p ra .ti c e sa s s h e i .vokes t he ang l a g eo l d e mo c r.c yi n rh e .o fte xr of rhi s debaie ft s therelorenecessaryro see 'rfadition and 'modeff ty not s mp y as po arires wirtrn a conceptla dr.lroronryAcco.df9 1(]JaneF co er lc led n P a ra .2 0 0 1 6 8 ) "The asserton oJ diiJeren.e lronr ortrer nat o n as m s ri rro l g hth e n v e n ro .o l rradri on, c o. c !fte n tw rh p o sr n g o f s m a rry as prool or a d v a n .e d mo d € rn i s rh e .o n ceptua oppo stro n e mb fa c e d b y a l n a ronatsr al l heni . i o S ol th A fr.a l n otherw ords rhe ' g r' s vtrg. ty securesrhe s gn ol purty' w hcf €ncomrcss€s, b!1 rs nor m ted ro,an erhnc ana G.E d menson V ng. ry tesrng i s a doman n w h ch the ' q r chi l d' schasrrybecomesan n{j er of so.a pl rl y Ths sgn ol pl rry, . t!fn, can be nstrLrmenta sed rhroughdscol rsesand pol i tca pracl cesdesgi ed ro adJl dcarew hi ch bodes, desfes and practi ces are al l henrc and w h.h arenot,w l hi n the narrona sch€nre The ! rq n ' g r' s' pl rry, then, s a resol rce, w hcl r can be depoyed n an ncendarypo rca reanrcharactersedbythe .refmi .g ngol narona chal vI sm w th E c. nal onai smOi co!6erhe polt ca pfoducron 3nd nsrflme.ta saron ot lhe ' gr ch ds chasti rys not !nrq!e. n l rercLrl ura h story oJ ! rg n ry n \ivestefn conlexts Anke Berna! dedLrces that '. the l gth cenl !i y, rapd ndusr.i a zato., lroirnzanof, lhe growrh oj urban povedy economidepfessi c on andthe changi q roe ot w omenai co.rrbl red10concemsw | r' socta puty' andpl bl c morary. .. Thel ern soc€ pl rty ndi cates a co.cernfor the ' pl i ry ol bol hthe ndvdua andrhesoci abody ' P €ra notes thar " rhe preocc!pat on w i l h w omens modesty,prevol sy enl orcedprmar y S o lv ha t ro e d o e s th e fg l re o l i i re ' gr as throl gh k nshl pnetw orks' i s n.orpofated .to v r on pa y n l h e p ro d u c ro no f rh e n a lof? of mecn3.sms oT sl rve ance depoyed b\r the p ro c e s s e sa r,a o v e rd e r ermi .ed noderf state' Thes€ srrl e ai ce re.hf ql es a. d t h€ i mta l o .s n o p e fa to nh e re F re ctude take ..!i i pl e l orms andrend to featl re I mo6t a c om pr e h e .s v e€ n g a q e n r€ nwt i rh rh s q lestof pancsabol t ' g | ' serl ai i les andrhei .l i oab ryr5 wil h 9h ght one sa e.r leature of rs potirca ln the .oftemporary Solrlr Alrcai eiv fo.meil m oblis € l o n n th e p o s t-a p a .th ed{ to i ment The the sense ol anxiety and lrgency rhar ntornjs debat esa b o l t v rg n ry re s rf!, n ra n d enrw th arrourteen sex!a ty are ot her c o n te s ta to n w s th n € n o n g o n g n ai i ona flelled by tlre prevaen.e ol H V nfeclto. amonq b e c o m ea s 1 e fo r t/re p ro ducron ' r r am ar l rq y , and ls e o i a p !rt!/p o l rl o n d o m (O.tnet P !bi c heath messagi fgemanarngtrom 19781I T hs i d o m i s l s e d ro s rru c tl rea p o i ca the natonalheal thand educarondeparrments d scoLrrsetlrat s ls€d ro sel lire renns €nd nc !des an emphass on absrnence' The ta. guage a n d c u l t!ra l m rg e re p e ri orc !sed wt hln ihes e .a n rp !g n s c a n n o ib e s e q l e stered f f om abs tn e n c eme s s a g e sc rc o a tn g n o ther . o. t ef is no rc a nth . p o i .a l u s e s to \!h c h they . af be p! 1 Wh a t B e rn a !.a s b a tl e s o v e r ser edlc at on i 2 0 0 7 :l 7 l ) n th e L rS Are v e rb e ki ej n t he c ont €m p o G ry So l th A l rc a ^ p o i c a l s cere T hes es k r m l s re so v e r s e x e d l c a to r fre q lentl y p av ou on a .a i o .a rs l a g e . to ihrs reporl ihe N;rona nre.farh Leadershp C ou.c i N LC ),j omed by B hemachLrrch l eadef R ay McC a!ey s a groupcompi s.! about 20 re s ols eaders. folr oJ whom are "ANC MPs. i nc!d nq heaw \reghl ssucf as A N C ch et w h o Mathol eMol shel gaand FormefW esternC a.e premi-arEbrahm Basoo : The N LC s cosely associ al ed w th P fesi dei tJacobZ!ma, and the Rhema clrlrch oflered the Preside.t a patform pror to tl renal onal ei ,acl on i eafy 2009 l R l rema " W h e s o me c o m m e n ta to rs s l c a m thai l s a ci rl rch . i he mo!d of the nfl enta mel a I t he \ \l e s t a ' y o l n g w o n i .i l rsv rg n l t\r s ci r!rchesj o!rsti nr! n parrsol rhe Ll sA rThe lmefeyl fodder lor mora debate, pctenriar ! r9 n ry frovementsto wlrich Berna! a ldes are wof r y ,a rl dq rg g l vc o !mn s n te e nm a g a zl nes" cosey assocat€d w th these.h!rchesr: s oc . ed v tg i .ty mo v e m e n tsa re b e .om.! V rgni y testngs propo.entsborh dE !! on inc r eas n gy p o tc a y p o w e rf! !n d .u c c essi rl ard repfod!cefeg nr-asol regulatn! ieen sexlalrty ni s uc hc o !n tre sa s th e L l n i te dSl a l e sw , hefe that are e!den1 n othef pa.es Therel orethe t h€ B lsh a d mn s tra l o . h .s p o l l h e d m ons pra.tceca.noto. y b. readas an soared.ul !r3 of do ar s n l o a b s in e ..e o f y s e r e d l caron response to contemporarysex!a c! r!res (Ceriaiilynot when rhe testers . KwaZ! ! Nara n s c ho o s T h e m e s s a g e1 o a d o e s .e n ts s ihat m. nla n .g yolr v rg n iy protectsyo! .ot fecel vefl ndng l rom the provnca governmen ir om pr e g n a n cbyl t s th e o n y re a b e o i eans and \rl rei ceremo.es 3re condl ctedl ndef the of av od n g a b e w l d e rn g a .d i r!h te nl ng aeqsotl h-pmora regencratcn mol emenf !rhi .. pet hoE o Ts e x L ay tr.n s n rfte dd i s e a s €s w as spearherded by the .!nent P fesrd-aft oi rhe T hes €r e d !c a 1 .n .g e n d th a a ih a sb € e nh a ed F-.p!bc, JacobZw a l Ja.obZ!mahasprevi o!sy by t s s l p p o rl e rsa s a tfl m p r l o r' v a !es, e\pressedlr s slppo.t tor ! rgi. ty lesl .9 a.d he lvh le treng sated b\r ts opponentslor bel.g ma.l ea seres oT.ontentoLrs remarksabo!t teen a. t ede! v a n ;s c a e d ' :b s tn e ..e e d l c ati of' preqnanc!d!rng rhe rece.t natona eectron or ' abs tn e n .eo ny e d l c a ti o .' i t l s th e a g end. calpa 9n Accordng to a repo.t by Tonyweavet t hai lr a s o n .e mo re t!n i e d ' !i rg n ty nto he sad th€t ' teena!e gl ri s w ho l e Freg.e.t a m at t e ro f l u b c fe a th ' n o t j L St p r vate sho!d have ther babi esi or.by removedrrom tl i e.. and that they sho!d be sei t aw ay (' l s JacobZlma ta k ns h mseli or1al a )ob] TheCape Fegimes of regulating teen sexuality Imes, 2l November20081 l'le aso slqlested B ec entm € d a re p o rts :tte s 1l o s m i l a r p a tterns thai manyteengn s ' i al l pregrantsmpysothai of po icar .onlergence belweef the state and theycanaccesssoca grani s Thete.or of rhese l! ndanr eni as t .e g o u s g fo !p s n tn e S ol th remarksand th€ ogi .s that !..j erpn theni are A inc a. c o. te x trL Ma n d yBo s s o !w n v e s g!1es t ai ready enrergng n hrsadm. strato. s responses a. . iue. t a g o d -s q l a d l v i h r th e A N C thar to what s olten ca ed the 1ee. pregnancycr s s r id. t s t o ' fe v i s i t a w s e g a s rn g a b o ro n and for w ri .h ' s rs l re made10bearan uni ar share s am e- s ex m a n a q e ' 1 ' ,Pa s iF oa . y A N Ca r p faye.? ot the mater. €.d synrbol c bl rdei . F at h ! r o! p p l a n sto c h a e .g e c o n s ttl to n Mal and G oat .aJn ,1 1 1 7 S e p te m b €2f 0 0 9 )A..o r.i f! A s I Mte thi s, a reporton the prnre rl me new s b! etn on tl re S ol i h A frcaf B roadcasti ng C E Corporaironhigh ghts newy plblished reseaf.h that providesdata about dec nlng (b!i still h gh) 6ies of 1 e e . p re g n a n c ya, .d w h c h pi nponts s o. lald rv e | sfo r i h s s ta teo f 3 l i a n s :i T h€l epo( nc ldes commentaryfrom the [/]lnrsterof Basc to E d! c . io n , An ge Mo l s h e k g aw, h o re s p onded l t mghi s a y L n q th a t ihes e r e s e l rc hl i n d n g s b y be necessaryto review lhe depaftme.ts po cv of pf ov i d i .gc o n d o msn s c h o o j ss rn c ed o.g so ' m ght co n tra d l c th e r d e p a d me n tsa bsti nence messaqiig wh e t s mportani10 po nt out that rhe Ministefs commenis were oiiered n the m m ed€ l e € i l e rma tho f l h e re s e a fc hl .dngs beng ma d ep l b c a n d th 3 1th e y d o n o l €1ths point, feflect a lorma po cy statementtrom lrre dep. r t m e n ts l re r!n s , i h e y .o .e th e l e ss offer c €ls e lo r c o n c e ri :r T h rsi s p a ftrc l r.ryso s rce there seems to be 3. .adeqlate fesponsetrom the stalewhen it comesto meel rg ts obligatons to providethe necessary,economc, educatona and en v fo n m e n ta re l s o u rc e s .e q u i fedf gr' 'vngns are both responsesto a.d sit ir iens on wirh, so.a conterts and serlal clltdres tlrat as ' d s e.abl nstor LecercMadal acharacl ei ,ses (2002) g those who deploY Theiefore, many rs se thef!!re of thati nstr!menta rhetorcal topes . . w aysl hatdo noiacknow Ledge rhe' qr as-vi rg these 'd s enab ng contextsand serua cltures abdlcatetheir responsb ly lor ame oratinqthe l hai precpl ate l hesemorarprncs c rcumst€nces 8!rrhen€93.,l nuchofthi sta k aboutv fgi nty y has essi o dow th l hese' qrs andthe vabl l l i ol prodlctio. of rhen ves, and more 10do with the rhe nationstate And as we a know,everystate ne€ds ts s€crfl.ia virgi.s Acknowledgements !!sh to thank Co . F chaidsfor rhe ntellectlal k nshLpthat i ntensi es my th nki ngabol t tl rese q!estl o.s Thanks a so to C ynthl a(ros i or aqreel ng to be a sol ndi i q borrd and co eagues w ho dl scussedthi s w ofk w th and stl den1s n tefcourse J ro m s e i l a l c t z ens a re to ' 3 b s ta n semnaf n the W ts S chool me ai a research s ho! d t b e th e ( c h o c ei o d o s o , a .d to ensl te oi Arts want lc' etpress my appre.iaton lo t hat t he r l L l ec h a n c e sa re n o t i h w a rl e dsho!d the anonymousrevewers for ther thoughtt! t hey no t b e n a p o s i ti o .to ma k el h i s c h oce;or engagementwiilr the pape. Thls research s nol to absta n lndeed,sho! d they ciroose Fo!ndato. t n t h e w e e kl o o w l n gp u b c a to no l i he H S B C suppo ed bythe N al l onaLR esearch heren. i s not r€spo.sbe l or vew s expressed lndinqs, Ann€ N.4alav!doc!niented the most recentcaseof a h gh schoolpr ncipa suspendrng pr egna nst .h o o q l rl s a .d n o t a L o w .g t hem'to I Th s s 3n abbrcviaredd's.rss on d€M 1r0m a nqer returnto schoo aiier they gve birtlr'('Their ves es€r,.h proje.l ihal tack3 ioladc weabnsr.r the ar e s on e , So w e ta n7 S e p te m b e2r 0 0 9 ).:' urhe and the P o i .a !rrhn the P oi l .n edlcarlon depadment oiilclaLIndcated thai apa,theid .etnq a..i lvh.h thnlis .l cimeshed qlestois n. ud nq h.v/ serm t\i 10 ' pr ncpas a re .' l a o w e dto s a yth e ys h o uLdnt be b.fi .w n.m JasbrP l ari 2007 l r2)'consl l |nes a.e a in schoo , the HSRC.epo.t slqgests that thls is 3nd.ru.a ..mp.nent of the mr an o. qo i i q p ro b e m a n d . a c c o rd n gto saadhna patot sm F., ihe nurp.ses ot spa.e.id.oherei.. Pand€y, the "qov€rnme.rsholld siaft a p.oleclto .anrdi .i!laqe q!esions arornd how q I s respo.rl to (b d) the ,es mes.i serNa requaion de n.d n the artc e get r €e n a g emo th e rsb a c k1 0s c h o o Drovoerh s i nd of ai: vs s. -<e th311 nt e rn a to n as c h o a rs h i dp e mo n s tra t€s p,.re.t lrhere ds.u3 vne i ty s s ome thn g o l ! c a s s p rv e g e fo r' g ds to be rhe .onrpl .r quesron ot's ds' erol c and al 1e.tv. abe t o d e re m i n ew h e n th e y w a .t to termnate horTonsand the r aqencYw1h n if s s..noqraprry 2 A corm.ni aboulmy use.i I their statls as 'v rg .s In Solth AkG, c! t!6 rh s pap.. Thereare, olcours€ nanYth rss wh .h .ou d inl! nc l o n s w h c h re q ! re th a t g rl s remal . c . : r! r:!. rr r.r3rr!rrcp.s.i suqqeri s.me ol Ir. 5c-.r.s r[' i]l n the ba.kqr0rio .l ny .ofi,ri. r 3bo!i tl e N Lc Je:i rnd J.rl 2N 0s 9rl ,.i e.t oi the arri .n ol r..eved c.ftr.tl dri n.i .ns l r.trren i he n..d 3no h: se.uar rnrnq 3 e 5 r d a b o r t th - er cp ., b r r r r e n r . k , n:r e r fd in ]e .]e .a m t!o r h ., .a r r o r b . n r s i .d n T ] e F s 3 .m o .]5 .E3 r n Jb o r ' ] o , I t h ;s ..n iiu e d rl h.L.: nierupr.i rBo.nzae, rid sreo. 20011)rllr pu'r'.s: 5Drt.a ry 3 :55e(!e v 5.:0. bands df z.ns:: mov. w ar:E , ri ai oi nns sprrrJ m.r.freeY tobrr!!m6 up a onq i-.:iifs " 1r,.7 L rder x.:hJl mi f!.s ti ar " t i .e r931, A l ,.ai e n.,eJs, rJard.ver llss r.!lu aled vrei ti q i n oveE hte the ni trre rn.l .rrenr. ai l rri i !l dr. r!1.e rl trr. hvrerb. . tn.se..ni ..ton, foms or lr. i.i .amP3qr ns i5 t ',ev! f.el s n.: ifrJ! ! ! : h n i r e d e b a t: t. r h .r l 7 l i trro r cr e r A..ord fs io r'laror Edm rn!s, r sDole: srh.:a Fa, r.df r,lar.h 2c06 I 1Th-FPo l.s .J Cradq slu u jDe a k r q K' [Z L L Nia Fq.n a b . u 1 i h.r Ie ssa M r tu t u r te s, Part.5 i. relrJrre rh-e renrrrs, FePubi. a5s.rts tr.t r d p 1 3 ct.e s nan:!i l the A\C s blessen , heaven, rl Jesrs..n,ca M.t' O1€.i hs N LC advs!rs, P ;s1.r Sc. tr'lunqs zoln 'Gande,p. I 15 i6 sepienrb.r 2007 ard N,e. Tos, lie L4/e-"i-.nder D a r . r c r c A.h a . F ih ytim s, r a a r tl GtEtdrrn 142\) fay M.Cju.y. sa .l ne!$pJp. rhi T:eA i l a ra5a s.onq oi r:1a I tadr.n r,el z!ral d.es be .!e thai f sF try G.d oe eve |rs I rhe 5am-Frrryrrrd rre ele rri S e e L -.ce r . M a d 3 a 1 2 0 0 2 i,1 1 1 3 .!s i2 0 0 a l S .oru: 1200ai \.rn..it 12006rand A .(a neo i. t! a panor L. ied i M3r'-'.n srr.s.i b. eve, n tr,! p.rer or zLnJ IheStrd.r i.t -'Dctdert 3 N.v-"rrb.r 200!r Trre Pr.sdeit! asso.ar,.n r1h beei ...onDan ed by a oDtreved ,.butl nq of rre S oui h A ft.an C o!n. !'ahrr.res, a L.i er. Mjd a a ras sa. rhJl ,rr e |re vis n myttr 5 a . ] i : . J r J l.a to .e 9 9 a r .i erden.e ro nd.ne irai mji! p l c r . d n ,' h p p a ca m e ,.r , D.e s a r vb o d ve 3 0 h:vr Ih: rqlit rio( I !o! re r vrq i7' U-.1: arrn.l aomn,err oi E .o!r.ers SAPC7 3 Feblatu 2009 5-.e Lec c'.lr'lad aa 120021 h sr r q ' r t !r . q r r iJi!e aJi eren.: b e f , e ei v r q r 1 y te s' n q . L se n e y i. s1 3 r e3 .n r ir .6 su c i h e l e rr e su h le ._ s .r r d ir y wh e r S.u1hAi.e tre s13reh ed th-..en 3 r f e l . n a b si.d r a va n b o d v.l s.r r .a fsr p s.h.6rs rlho rrave ,eceniY eiga!le.i 1r s and M.q n cu d . Sr r e e n flr r m 1 2 0 0 61 a p i , i r r .d m i -au T h ! Y o r lq Co r n u n .r r L *o !e nrr.ia @!emm€nfs \aeboi a 3n.e patne6 S h e 4 Or ln e , d e :a 3 h o w r s d .m e n e;ses s d , u . r N e d a n n o p e ,a to s r d fte r e n r ilo n a ,.o n r :rt a nayss ol v . r C fp tin L 2 0 o 7 lDr o vd e 5a r .r r e io e i p a i o f ar r wh .h l : 5.. P ete,5 B errm3i at H armh S ru.kr.r 1200l l:.r a rlela ed a..o!r! ol h 5 5..ia prr.foI.n!n rs See Bhana!r a 12003i 20 SAEC3 19h00iev4 b! !r n,5 September2009 nc ude.i a ,epci on Funan s.ei ..3 C e See Ta.r nq T..n Preoian.r ed byDr lvl.4de r.iat 'rii. in s.h.. s htp//hs,c a.d/Med 2r r s w !r:h i ol nq D. Mrihoe til.i:he[$ i I er.iG r5 se! sarar Nlnal L2oosr 1 6 d s h r . h sh sit r lr a l lr e d - cve o p r .n 5 ihe paoer's .onc udiig momeni C.n.n ratois th:r do 'n: have r el er i o l dho s o]e ol 1rr. rer or ,{Na nenrbec of D3r amenr n rrr.l! Lc Th s s icrto sullesi th* l,r dr i ners v e\!s arc d.:.rm ned It her matraqe partne, Farhef it 5 to sugoenth aiienior r. rhe ni€ ecru: rtrents rhd mllht nlm decs cni 3ho rares $hei she rev evrs her d.palm.nr 5 po . es or d:n butrs..ndcms at e.h.. i di d l an?q nq leen p,oqian.Y M nnd, l,rotheksa rd-reo that h-Fr d. rh3 I rcspo's. ro lhe HSqC repoi s tndnqs Tte FS R C do.unrent hqh qhG a q!.nons thal requ re urq.ir iumber of d,u.r!fa . hsf ,arer oJ teei prelian.v !.vemienr ni.rr.rron n resons rc rhe Ea{-c:r Crp. Tre 3re to be cu,ia e.l ava ab i i !.i .ondoms doer i ol reantr: as . sl l ni -nt fa.:o, n 1ue iq teen p.e,oiaicv rates 22 Th:ai.ic ndesttul Pr i.pa O.rn s Mr ura at Bosenla H 0 h S c h o oin De h ' h a d su sp e id e d b e r we e nse ve nand rweniyp,egnant pup sJrcm schoo , Beaman P5 and Bai.kner Ft t2o0r) promsin! rhe Fuiure vnonr}l Pledqesaid Fn$ merc.rse n The Ar)eicar JourEr so.iol.o, 1061!Lt€5s912 '' Bejnau A t20071lrq,rs A a!/tural HisroryLondon:Ganra Bhana D er a 12003)'Pr.qianr c s and y.unq parenrs i sourhAn.an Schoos n As€ndr 76 TBEs Boonza€r E a.d Spiese AD 120031Tradloi n SheDr€rd N and Rob,us s iedsl New solth Ati.r, (erwords J.nann€sDUr0Jacana Chipkn 1 2007) D. Sarth Att.ans E\rst? Uati.nahsnl, De.nac'Ty an.1thetdennly.f IhdPe.prel Johaiiesb!|g: Comar.il J and Comrolt JL (200a) ,Fath, ir Shepherd N aid Fobns S tedst New Sauth Altrcan Kelw.tds Johan.esburq Jacana Hassm S 12007)Wom.r's Ors.nrzano.. and Denaca.y rn s.rth Alla CantestingALth.ntr Scortsvt€: Universty or (wazu u N*a Press Le.e,c rvla.laa S 12002) 'Yauih, H !/A DS and ihe Curure and Conrexr n So./a/ 2 0 4 r ia va ia b e a i h r p //d xdo orcr'101030/02511395020345372t, accessed:st Algugr Mar.us T 12003)',V €ni ry Tosrnq A B ackw ardtooknq Fespons€ro Sexuat Feolaroi in the HIV/A|DSCrs s i carr.n B Labaid I and slho e J \edsl zotu LJenrtje.: being zrtr, past antl ptesent Scorsvi e Unversry oJ (wazu u NatarPress,s36 572 Nurta S 120091cn B.d* n Enta.alenenl Ln ratr and crnoEltettecn..s.n p.stzpanheld Jorjannesblr!, w rs Pa,laAi200ll Ihe l-lonol ofthestate VrcrnlyE:amjnaroi3 n rurkey i Femr.is. srudres,2111):65.84 Pua, J 120071 lerc,sr Ass.nbtas--5 Hanhan.retr.n jn oleer Imes Durhamand Loidan Dute unjveBry pr63 Ofti€, 58 11973) Th€ Vnqn aid ihe Slare' i F€mrnrsr srdree a0) r93s lava abo ai http//wwwrsi.rofs/ slabre/3177536a.cessed:23 Juy2009) Samueson M {2007),genembe.ingtheNat@, DisnernLeary Wanenl Staries al the Sa,th Artr.an ,anston S.orsv e Unve6ly.t Xwazuu.Naiatpress scorci eF12n061 A bdrl eTTheprohbroi .1vruni tyresti ns in the Ch drens B l'ii Ased, 63 t9 2E !,nceni L 120061 !rqnny tesrng i Solrh Afrt.r: R€rcdroins ire posrco/.ny in Curur€, He./rh & BENITADE FOBILLARD is a tecruferin the Schootof Arts ar rh€ Universjry of the Witlvatersrand, SouthAfrica.Her researchand reachingpracticeencompass work acrosstlie ntersecting areasof femi.ist,queerand posrcotoniat modesot €nouiry. h her dodoraldissedaronshe investigates rhe meshtngot potiricsand soxuatiry in the postapanheid settingusingan anatytics whichasksque$onsaboutthe reatmot j emphasises the micrGpoltica contemporaneiiy: andwhtchinctudes a discussion oj objectsandconcerns sometimes construed as potticalyinconseqLenrja. G rs ;iir rrs n ly l.'tit l\j rie roll a