JOHANNESBURG: A South African man is offering women up aged up to 35 a reward of $9,300 and medals if they are still virgins, in an apparent bid to combat HIV and teenage pregnancy.
Rabelani Ramali, a community worker from rural Limpopo province, told The Times newspaper he will give “successful” virgins prize money of up to 100,000 rand and gold, silver and bronze medals, according their age.
The initiative has received a mixed reaction.
“Those in the lower age groups will aspire to keep their virginity to claim a bigger prize once they reach that older age bracket,” Ramali was quoted as saying.
The man — who has fathered five children by four women — calls himself the founder of “South African Virgin Girls Awards.”
He has enlisted a local doctor to verify the contestants’ virginity status.
“When he approached me about his mission, I thought it was a good, interesting idea to tackle the scourge of HIV and AIDS,” doctor Mbonise Tharage was quoted as saying.
“His intentions are noble but it is a huge task,” he said.
South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV, with about 6.4 million people living with the virus.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription