A scheme which offers female students scholarships to girls in rural South Africa if they can prove they are virgins has been condemned by human rights groups.

Thubelihle Dlodlo is nervous about leaving home in Emcitsheni village in rural KwaZulu-Natal. The 18-year-old has won a prized scholarship, but there is a catch: she only qualifies for the funding if she keeps her virginity.

"Remaining a virgin is my only chance to get an education because my parents can't afford to take me to school," she says.

To continue receiving her funding, Ms Dlodlo has to undergo regular virginity tests but she says she does not mind.

"Virginity testing is part of my culture, it is not an invasion of my privacy and I feel proud after I'm confirmed to be pure."

The age of consent in South Africa is 16 years, though there is an exception which makes it legal for those older than 12 and younger than 16 to have sex with each other.

Even with a strict interpretation of the law, Ms Dlodlo is already more than two years over the age of consent, but is only just starting her university career.

But activists argue these tests are intrusive and that it is not fair to link opportunity to education and sex in this way:

"What is really worrying is that they are only focusing on the girl child and this is discriminatory and will not address problems with teenage pregnancy and HIV infection rates," says Palesa Mpapa from campaign group People Opposing Women Abuse.

"It's not only the girl that is to blame," she says.

uThukela municipality mayor Dudu Mazibuko, who introduced this special category dedicated to virgin girls, disagrees.

"The scholarship is not a reward but a lifelong investment in the life of a girl, we are also not condemning those who've made different choices because we accommodate them in other scholarships," she said.

The council offers more than 100 scholarships, 16 of which have been given to virgin female students.

Culture and tradition

In this part of the country, virginity testing is common practice. In Zulu culture, virginity testing is done by elderly women.

It qualifies Zulu maidens to participate in the annual reed dance which takes place every September at Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini's royal palace.