The Women’s Leadership and Training Programmes
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 The Emthonjeni project was launched in rural Kwa Zulu Natal (KZN) in 2007 in response to traditional cultural practices that violate the basic human rights of girls and young women and dramatically increase their risk of HIV and AIDS.
Practices such as “ubusoka”(young men seeking status by having multiple partners), ”ukuthwalwa” (the abduction of young women and teenage girls for marriage),and “umhayizo” (a form of “bewitchment” of girls and young women by boys or young men) have been identified as practices that must be abolished. At the same time, factors such as poverty and the socialization of girls and young women that increase vulnerability to these practices must be addressed. Under this project, the WLTP seeks to educate community leaders (some of whom are complicit in these practices), traditional healers and church groups of the risks posed by ubusoka, ukuthwalwa and umhayizo, and at the same time to reduce girls’ vulnerability by increasing self-esteem, improving gender relationships, and through economic empowerment.
Zanele’s story
“I was fourteen years old when I got abducted. It was 10:00pm when my cousin came home and asked my mother to allow me to go to his home. Outside, five men grabbed me and took me with them screaming and fighting. They sang very loudly so that no one could hear me. They promised not to kill me and told me not to cry. I didn’t sleep that night. I was shocked and traumatised by the incident. My husband-to-be sent people to my home with ilobola. I hoped that my father would refuse, but to my great disappointment he accepted the lobola and agreed that I could stay with the man without even hearing my point of view. Since that day I have regretted being with that family but it didn’t help. It took me two years to accept my husband. I was too young to differentiate between love and acceptance.
I felt so humiliated and powerless as if I was nothing but an object for family income generation and to fulfil other people’s happiness. I had dreamed of being a professional nurse and helping my family especially my mother who had worked very hard to provide for us. I hated the thought of being like her. She was always sad. I wanted to be a very happy woman but my dream was smashed. I didn’t finish Matric. I have struggled to bring up my lovely children after the death of their father. That has made me hate what happened to me even more.
I’m still struggling even today to bridge the gaps in my education and to be healed emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I still want the best for my kids and I would fight to death if anyone abducted my daughter Nokukhanya or if my son Swelihle abducted a girl. I am aware of women’s rights so I would charge the perpetrator regardless of what people said. The difficulties I went through taught me to be independent and not to try to buy other people’s favour. I will fight not only for my own children but for all girls in my community”.
Zanele Ngcobo 32 (Emthonjeni Project Trainer)
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