THE late King Zwelithini's widow, Queen Nompumelelo kaMchiza Zulu, has urged virgins to stop drowning themselves in booze.
She was speaking to virgins during "Operation Vala Ntombi" which was hosted by uMfolozi Municipality at Mbonambi, northern KZN on Wednesday, 5 April.
"My girls, stop this thing of thinking that your happiness comes from alcohol. You need to respect your status as izintombi and be representable," she said.
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Queen Nompumelelo said that it was worrying to see virgins drink alcohol the way they do.
"It is a shame and disgrace to see a lot of virgins grooving and drinking as if there is no tomorrow. We urge all of you to stop acting like that because all eyes are on you, so you can't be sloppy. You're the example and you should act like it," she said.
One of the virgins who attended the ceremony, Snakhokonke Buthelezi (24), praised the municipality for the operation.
"September is very far and we need to be reminded from time to time of how important it is to abstain from sexual behaviour. I also agree with the queen. Our peers drink a lot of alcohol nowadays to ent
ertain themselves," said Snakhokonke.
Slindile Zikode (18) said: "It is shocking to see many virgins drink alcohol because we are the mirror of young girls who are watching us. What is it that we are teaching them? What does this do to our image? It is very disappointing and we need to appeal to those who do that to stop."
Umfolozi Mayor Xolani Bhengu said they had the operation to encourage young girls to continue abstaining from sexual activities until they get married.
"This is one of the ways we motivate them that what they are doing is good and should continue so that they can go to the reed dance in September," said Bhengu.
