Alarming increase in teenage pregnancies mar Christmas | The Witness

With over 600 mothers across the country delivering their babies on Christmas Day, celebrations quickly turned to concern when the Department of Health found that a number of these mothers were teenagers.

At Seshego Hospital near Polokwane, a 13-year-old girl gave birth, marking one of the youngest mothers recorded this year by the national Health Department.

Among other teen mothers were three 15-year-olds in KwaZulu-Natal and a 16-year-old in Klerksdorp.

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KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane expressed concern, calling teenage pregnancies “a deeply concerning trend” with profound implications.

“Teenage pregnancies not only affect the health of young mothers but also place additional pressure on families and the healthcare system,” said Simelane.

Three 15-year-olds gave birth at Emmaus Hospital in Winterton, Hlabisa Hospital in kwaNongoma, and St Andrews Hospital in Harding.

Two fathers were 19 years old, while one was 23, raising questions about statutory rape and familial oversight.

Additional cases included a 16-year-old mother at St Andrews Hospital, two 17-year-olds at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial and Estcourt Hospitals, and an 18-year-old at Church of Scotland Hospital in Tugela Ferry.

Simelane urged a return to stricter parenting and increased community involvement to address this crisis. “Parents must adopt stricter approaches and not condone inappropriate behaviour. We all need to be more hands-on in raising our children,” she said.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli echoed this call, stressing the need for education and empowerment.

“While we celebrate these births, we must also reflect on the circumstances leading to teenage pregnancies.
“It is our duty to support and educate our youth,” said Ntuli.

Health Department head Dr Sandile Tshabalala announced plans to collaborate with the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to address the issue.

Tshabalala highlighted severe health risks for teenage mothers, such as complications during childbirth due to underdeveloped pelvises, and criticised families who resolve cases of underage pregnancies privately to avoid legal repercussions.

“Such cases often involve either incest or rape, and there is no justification for avoiding legal action,” he said.

The DSD also pointed out challenges in its Risiha programme, which reached only 62% of its target in KwaZulu-Natal.

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The programme aims to support families and address root causes like inadequate sexual education, online exploitation, and statutory rape.

“This is not merely a health issue — it is a societal challenge that requires collective action,” Simelane said.

Only by addressing the root causes and holding everyone accountable can we reduce teenage pregnancies in KwaZulu-Natal.