This comes in the wake of reports of young girls among the mothers giving birth during the festive season in provinces such as the Northwest, Mpumalanga, and the Eastern Cape.  

The department's Acting Deputy Director-General for Health Programmes, Ramhelane Morawane, expressed grave concern over the issue, emphasizing that teenage pregnancies disrupt young lives and perpetuate cycles of poverty. “Teenagers are children, and we should allow children to be in school so they can prepare for a future,” Morawane said in an interview.  

He pointed out that a troubling trend involves older men impregnating teenagers. “The man who impregnates the girl roams freely, hiding behind the fact that it’s not known. In most cases, these men are known in their communities, but people choose not to report them,” Morawane added.  

Morawane highlighted that the issue is not confined to men alone. “There are teens impregnating each other as well. Our sexual and reproductive health rights education targets both boys and girls,” he said, urging young people to access youth-friendly services in over 2 200 clinics across the country.  

The department has partnered with stakeholders, including the Departments of Basic Education and Social Development, the South African Police Service, and civil society, to address these “atrocities.” “We are calling on everyone in society to say, ‘Not in our name,’ and to stand against young children falling pregnant,” Morawane stated.  

Teen pregnancies, he said, are not just physical risks for young girls but disrupt their lives. “Their bodies are not yet developed to carry a child. It traps them in poverty, disrupts their education, and jeopardizes the child’s future,” he explained.  

Recent arrests, such as those in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, signal progress in holding perpetrators accountable. However, Morawane noted challenges such as societal complicity. “Parents sometimes shield the perpetrators because they are breadwinners,” he said, adding that anyone who hides such crimes should be prosecuted.  

The department continues to run year-round programmes to combat teenage pregnancies and their root causes, emphasizing prevention through education, family planning, and access to resources. “Our message is clear: children should not be parents. Let them build their futures,” Morawane concluded.

--ChannelAfrica--