Municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal that have arranged transport for maidens taking part in this year's reed dance have been advised to conduct roadworthiness inspections on the vehicles. The KwaZulu-Natal department of arts and culture, in partnership with the municipalities, has arranged 209 buses and 26 taxis to ferry maidens to the reed dance, which takes place in Enyokeni Palace in Nongoma this weekend.The call for vehicle inspections was made before a tragic accident in which an unconfirmed number of Swaziland maidens were killed on Friday night."We are also working with municipalities to arrange transport to and from the venue for the maidens."The department has strongly advised municipalities and stakeholders assisting with the transportation to conduct roadworthiness inspections on the vehicles prior to the event, as well as verification of Public Driver's Permits and vetting of drivers' records," said department spokesman Lethukuthula Mtshali.Virginity testing is an ancient Zulu tradition regarded as an important rite of passage to womanhood.Every spring, thousands of young women descend on the palace to affirm their purity.Virginity testing is a custom Zulus have in common with Swazis, who held their reed dance at the weekend.However, the Swazi reed dance, which ended yesterday, was marred when at least 11 young women and two men died in a road accident on their way to the event.There were contradictory reports about the number of casualties after the Swaziland Solidarity Network put the figure at 65. Its spokesma n, Lucky Lukhele, said the number was changed to allow Swazi King Mswati III to continue with the reed dance.Two years ago, 10 maidens and a bus driver were killed, and more than 60 injured, in a bus accident on their way home from the reed dance in Nongoma. The accident was attributed to faulty brakes and speeding.Maidens will start presenting their reeds before Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini on Friday.The king will address the maidens on Saturday, and this year's reed dance will focus on teenage pregnancy and substance abuse.The department of arts and culture has teamed up with its education counterparts to offer career guidance, personal hygiene tips and mobile health screening for the maidens...