Virgins prepare for Reed Dance
Hundreds of Zulu virgins from the Ilembe District attended the official send off to the Reed Dance, at Thembeni Sports Field on Saturday.
The function was attended by members of the Zulu royal family and district leaders.
The Reed Dance, a celebration of virginity, takes place at Nongoma at the Enyokeni Palace this weekend.
Thousands of young girls from across the province will take part in the ritual of carrying a reed from the Nongoma River and carry it to the palace, where they are addressed by King Goodwill Zwelithini.
Zulu mythology has it that if a young woman who is not a virgin takes part in the Reed Dance ceremony, her reed will break and embarrass her in full public view.
The King uses the festival as an opportunity to educate the youth, usually focusing on social issues such as practising sexual morals, preventing teenage pregnancy and the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
The girls will leave KwaDukuza on Friday and return on Sunday.
