Incazelo yesichazamazwi yegama elithi "umzali wokutholwa" ngumuntu omukela futhi akhulise ingane noma izingane okungezona ezazo ngokwemvelo, ngokuvamile ngohlelo olungokomthetho ne-ejensi yesevisi yezenhlalakahle noma inkantolo. Abazali bokutholwa banikeza indawo yasekhaya ezinzile nenakekelayo ezinganeni ezingakwazi ukuhlala nabazali bazo abazizalayo ngenxa yezizathu ezihlukahlukene, ezinjengokuhlukunyezwa, ukunganakwa, noma ezinye izinkinga zomndeni. Indima yosingamzali iwukuhlinzeka ngokunakekelwa nokusekelwa kwesikhashana ezinganeni kuze kube yilapho sezikwazi ukuphinde zihlanganiswe nemindeni yazo ezalelwe kuyo noma zibekwe ukuze zikhuliswe.