By Johnathan Paoli
The Democratic Alliance Women’s Network (DAWN) in the Eastern Cape has joined the chorus of voices expressing outrage at the prevalence of child pregnancies and statutory rape.
A total of 94 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 gave birth at public health facilities in the province since April last year. And on New Year’s Day, there were 14 teenage birth in the Eastern Cape.
DAWN provincial chairperson Nomvano Zibonda criticised cultural practices like damages payments, where families accept financial compensation for pregnancies involving minors.
“The alarming prevalence of normalised rape culture in our province demands immediate attention and collective action. Parents and communities must join forces to protect our young girls, reporting suspicious activities and supporting victims,” Zibonda said.
Many are calling on the government to ramp up awareness campaigns for girls and parents.
“We demand prompt reporting of rape cases and zero tolerance for non-compliance. Parents who fail to report abuse must face the full force of the law,” she said.
Zibinda demanded that the government enforced harsher penalties for perpetrators, ensure timely justice and safeguarding measures to prevent child abuse.
On New Year’s Day, a 12-year-old girl gave birth at Frontier Hospital in Komani. The alleged father, a 17-year-old, is expected to face legal consequences when he turns 18.
Eastern Cape social development MEC Bukiwe Fanta has condemned the exploitation of minors and called for justice.
And the African National Congress in the province has similarly called for intervention in the crisis.
ANC provincial spokesperson Gift Ngqondi said the matter of teenage pregnancy was complex and multifaceted. It needed to be addressed by society at large and required a comprehensive intervention.
“We are calling for conversations regarding teen pregnancies and sexual education as they are important if we want to turn the tide and save our children, especially the girl children, as they tend to carry the consequences should they fall pregnant,” Ngqondi said.
Inside Education reached out to the Basic Education Department concerning its policy for preventing and dealing with teenage pregnancy.
Spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the issue has become a major challenge for both national development and the basic education system.
“It affects the lives of thousands of young people, often limiting their personal growth, their pursuit of rewarding careers and their ambitions, with an incalculable impact on South Africa’s socio-economic landscape,” Mhlanga said.
He said the policy provided guidance on the reduction of unintended pregnancies, management of their pre- and post-natal consequences, limitation of associated stigma and discrimination against affected learners and, importantly, the retention and re-enrolment of affected learners in school.
Mhlanga said the goal was to reduce the incidence of learner pregnancy through the provision of quality comprehensive sex education and access to adolescent and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.
“It seeks to promote the constitutional right of learners to basic education by ensuring they are not excluded from school as a result of pregnancy and childbirth, and to provide a supportive environment for them to continue and complete their basic education,” he said.
The department is planning on mitigating the impact of pregnancy on the affected learners through the provision of a systemic, sustainable, structured safe and empowering environment.
Mhlanga said this would be achieved through the retention of learners in schools as well as providing school support and flexibility.
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