Durban — The queen of the Zulu nation, Ntokozo kaMayisela Zulu, told women on Tuesday that she does not believe in abortion and that God “does not make a mistake, everything that happens is His will”.
Queen KaMayisela said this at the University of KwaZulu Natal’s Women’s month celebration, which was held at the UKZN’s Westville campus. The queen said her foundation, the Kamasikole Foundation, is for every woman.
She said her father usually told her that the only mistake a girl can make “is to go and sleep with a boy”.
“What happens after is God’s will and this is why I don’t believe in abortion. I’m sorry if I offend anyone but God said ‘I knew you before I formed you,’” said the queen.
Queen KaMayisela runs a number of programmes that assist women and boys. These include the In-Between Girls programme, which focuses on women that are discriminated against in society. These include single mothers, divorcées, widows and teenage mothers.
She also runs a programme aimed at giving young men a voice in society.
The UKZN event was attended by academics and entrepreneurs. Women were told to be resilient and were taught about Zulu history, especially the powerful, wise women of yore.
A senior lecturer in African languages at the university, Dr Gugu Mazibuko recalled how King Goodwill Zwelithini spoke to men about all social ills, especially gender-based violence, and said in Zulu culture there were ceremonies for boys, especially at the end of the year called Umkhosi woSelwa.
“The young men gather at the Zulu palace where they are being educated on how to behave and treat women.
“Let us give the new king the platform to see what he is planning to do because GBV is a serious issue in our society. The king must work with other structures and the kings; they have a huge role to play in talking to men in different regions and societies,” said Dr Mazibuko.
She said back in the day men were grouped according to their age, to be taught how to behave and to fight since wars had taken place frequently. She added that they were taught how to court and treat a woman.
“Now people went to the city to work, and there are no more wars; this does not happen like how it used to,” she said.
Businesswoman and engineer Thandi Ngxongo, who owns a BP garage in Durban in Moore Road, said women need to be more resilient. She said they must not fail to meet challenges but rise above them.
“There will always be barriers, especially to black women but we should not stop. We must always be ready so that when opportunities come we grab them with both hands. As a woman, know what value you bring and when given a chance, show them the value that you are bringing to the table.”
Ngxongo encouraged women who want to get into business to draw up their own business plans so that it will be easier for them to attract potential business partners and investors. She wanted to see South African women doing what they are passionate about.
“I have a dream of South African women going to work because they are passionate about their jobs. A wish for women to go to work not because they have to or they need the money but because they love what they are doing,” she said.
Daily News