Durban — President Cyril Ramaphosa’s has failed dismally to address some of the social ills facing the country; among them the problem of teenage pregnancy and statutory rape.
These were the sentiments of the Congress of SA Students (Cosas) leader in KwaZulu Natal, Khetha Mjodi, who urged Ramaphosa to strengthen security and address poverty because it was one of the leading causes of teenage pregnancy. When Ramaphosa was deputy president in 2016 he launched an innovative campaign that aimed to mobilise all sections of society to address five critical challenges facing young people, among them was teenage pregnancy, high rates of sexual and gender-based violence.
Mjodi said the president touches on the right issues but implementing what he is saying was a problem.
“Teenage pregnancy is not a departmental issue but it's a societal issue. Poverty needs to be addressed because old men are taking advantage of the hunger of kids, they promise them food and money in return for sleeping with them,” he said.
A recent study by Barron et al published on the South African Medical Journal, revealed that from 2017-21 the number of births to young teenagers aged between 10 and 14 years increased by 48.7%. Stats SA revealed that in 2019, 1 061 383 live births occurred among adolescents who are aged 10-19 years, with KwaZulu -Natal recording the highest percentage than other provinces at 24.7%.
“Among registered live births that occurred among adolescents, KwaZulu-Natal recorded the higher percentage than other provinces at 24,7%. It was the only province with registered live births above 20%. KwaZulu-Natal was followed by the Eastern Cape and Limpopo, both at 14.%, Gauteng at 13.7% and Mpumalanga at 10%.”
“The remaining provinces reported less than 10% of registered live births. Nationally, the rate of Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) among women aged below 20 years was around 12% for all the reporting years, showing a slight increase from 2017 (12.1%) to 2019 (12.9%).
“In the three reporting years, the highest rates of TOP were observed in Limpopo. In 2017 and 2018, North West had the lowest proportions of TOPs, while for 2019, the lowest rate was recorded in KwaZulu-Natal.
Termination of pregnancy rates were seen to consistently increase in the Western Cape, Free State, North West and Limpopo.
Recently Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said in a written parliamentary reply that 91000 pupils fell pregnant last year.
She said the teenage pregnancy rate had been increasing over the years. The department had been trying to work with other stakeholders to identify people who impregnate young girls. Some of the pupils who fell pregnant were between the ages of 10 and 14.
On Monday, the Deputy Minister of Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo led the healthy life activities and public discussions in the fight against social ills which included violence against women and children, a high rate of HIV infections and teenage pregnancies, especially among girls and young women around Umbumbulu and neighbouring communities in KwaZulu-Natal.
Dhlomo said South African adolescents and youth were facing various health challenges and social ills. He said most of the new HIV incidences were at 30% among young people.
Dhlomo further said the struggle for a healthy life could not be achieved if young people remained at an increased risk of mortality and morbidity associated with accidents, suicide, HIV/Aids, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy-related complications and other preventable and treatable conditions.
Daily News