By Celani Sikhakhane
- A Grade 11 girl said she wanted to die after being bullied over claims she failed virginity testing.
- A local councillor stepped in just in time and got help for both girls involved.
A schoolgirl from Sweetwaters near Pietermaritzburg nearly took her life after a fight with another girl led to bullying over her virginity.
Elihle Madondo, a Grade 11 learner at Mqokothi High School, posted a TikTok video where she said she was going to jump off a bridge.
In the video, Elihle said she had said some bad things during the fight, but the other girl had started it.
“She told people that I’m no longer a virgin and said I bribed the woman who checks our virginity,” Elihle said in the video.
“I know what I said was wrong, but I only said it after she started lying about me. I told people she must leave me alone and take care of her baby.”
Elihle said she felt like she had failed her parents and had lost all hope.
Luckily, ward councillor Nduduzo Zuma heard about the video and acted quickly. Zuma, who is also the head of Mzansi Youth Development, helped stop Elihle in time.
Zuma said their first step was to get both girls the mental health support they needed.
“We are going to meet with both families and the school to make sure the girls go back to school safely and without more bullying,” he said.
Zuma said the other girl is also having a hard time. She had a baby while still in school and is struggling to accept that she is now a mother.
He said she was still going for virginity testing when she fell pregnant and hasn’t accepted the changes in her life.
Pictured above: Elihle Madondo
Image source: TikTok
