Ukuthwala (arrange marriage) is an ancient Zulu cultural practice. A boy and a girl in love with eachothers would pretend that he abducted and raped her so that the her family would consent to let them marry, since she lost the virginity and would not find another spouse.
In more recent times this practice has degenerate into real abduction and rape of girls as young as 12 years old. Ukuthwala has so become a comfortable mask to perpetrate every kind of criminal act against girls and young women. The victims are then forced to get married to their rapist, they have to drop school and forget any chances of improve their social and economical situation.
Getting married to their rapist leaves in those young women deep psychological scars.
RWM has been working with the communities in order to stop this criminal ritual. Against the cover of customary laws we have enforced the Constitution. As a result the first arrests were made and the rate of girls victim of Ukuthwala rapidly started decreasing.
As we write Ukuthwala has been eredicated in many communities and where is still practiced it is on its way to stop once for all.
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