MDLETSHE
2.2.6 INTERVIEW WITH CHIEF SONDELANI ZONDI
Yes I do.
Question 6: Explain to me how you are connected to the royal family.
The Zondi's feature in the royal family this way: During the time of King Shaka there was a case, which involved sexual misconduct. A certain man was having sexual intercourse with under-aged girls. King Shaka askedZondi, his Induna 34to preside over the case. Inhis handling of the case, Zondi impressed King Shaka. He was so wiseinhis deliberations and showed a lot of skill. Because of such wisdom and depth ofjudgement King Shaka instructed Zondi to rule over the area of Greytown, across the Tugela, as chief of e-Nadi. Zondi became a chief as a reward and an acknowledgement of his wisdom by King Shaka That is how the Zondi royal family was established.
about becoming a chief. There are many mysteries about becoming a chief that you would not understand.
Question 2: Tell me about the social life of Inkandla where you grew up.
I grew up at a time when we were encouraged by our seniors(igosa) to go out and propose a relationship to girls as a sign of growth, maturity and life. Itwas frowned upon if a girl would accept a proposal on that same day, without waiting for some time. Incertain instances the young man would have to wait even for a year, to elicit a response from a girl. When the response was given it would not be direct.
A girl might say 'gibela esihlahleni ungikhele icembe eliluhlaza.37. A young wise man knows that this means that he has to take something from the woman to show his friends that he has won her heart. One learns these things from the peers or igosa.
Question 3: What would happen after the acceptance of the proposal?
The two who now have a relationship would agree to meet at certain times. They would meet to share jokes, secrets, and so on. They would also want to share their intimacy. Now, the only way to express se:x.'UaI intimacy would be through
ukusoma. Itwas a well-known fact that sexual intimacy was the privilege of
umkhwenyana (bridegroom) through ilobolo. As the two continue to meet, they will now organise a party where the two will be locked in a room. Inthis room the young man will try to overpower the young woman in bed. Remember, this is not for sexual purposes. It is forukusoma. Amaqhikiza would be watching through the window. If the woman is overpoweredamaqhikiza will come to her assistance and take her out of the room. It is a bad thing if the man is overpowered by the woman.
Itreflects badly on the strength of the man. Itis also a crimeifthe young man forces his way and has sex with her, for which he will pay a penalty of a few cows, for having sex before marriage.
Question 4: Are these customs still being observed in your village today?
37The literal meaning is 'Get me a green leaf from a tree'.
Not completely as it was in our days. The emphasis now is in looking after young girls and making sure they keep their virginity for a longest possible time in their lives. I still have virginity testing conducted in my village every weekend. Inthis village I always encourage abstinence from sex. I also implore young women to go for virginity testing. I always teach people to say no to condoms. I want to eX'Plain why I say this. I say this because condoms can burst open. I am particularly concerned about the youth. The message that condoms send is that the youth are allowed to involve themselves in sexual activities before marriage, as long as they do not contract the ID Virus. Such an attitude destroys the future of young girls, in particular. The lives of young girls are destroyed, as young men do not want amasekeni38. We need to preserve the moral fibre of our young people. They need to know their value. If we can teach young girls to say no to sex and teach our young people the value of abstaining from sex before they are married we would have done well as a society.
Question 5: How is the AIDS situation in your village, and what are you doing about it?
I acknowledge the effects of AIDS in my village. I believe that the only real solution to this scourge is in going back to our traditional way oflife. Let me give you an example: if a young girl goes forukuhlolwa, she will be saved from involving herself in sexual activities. She will be scared to disappoint her parents and the community. I have also recently started working with a certain Non- Governmental Organisation, which will help the villagers in educating them about AIDS. I am training twenty people who will work together with this organisation.
They will go from home to home, talking about AIDS to families. I believe that the only effective way of educating people about AIDS is not in big gatherings, but in the family set-up. As a leader in this village I do not just want to talk about IDV/AIDS but I want to get involved in fighting it.
Question 6: Do youthink people today can abstain from sex?
38Second hand.
Itis difficult, and almost impossible. But I believe that those who want to can abstain from sex.· People should abstain from sex, although condoms can be used because of the context and environment of today. If young people cannot abstain from sex I would opt for masturbation Ifl masturbate nobody would be infected or impregnated. After abstinence, masturbation is the best solution to the AIDS
pandemic. Some peoplethinkthat ukusoma is a safe alternative. I would not encourage it because the thighs of a woman can crack, and that would lead to contact with her blood. Another thing that should be considered by our Education Department is to divide schools according to different age groups. This would help in that the younger children would not be influenced by the lifestyle of the older ones. As it is now they are all put together in one class, different age groups, who are at different levels of sexual growth which is not good for the younger ones.