Nomagugu Simelane, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, has urged the parents of teenage mothers to lay criminal charges against the men responsible for impregnating their minor children.

Simelane made this plea when she announced that the province had 143 Christmas babies – 64 females and 79 males. She said amongst the new moms were 15, 16, and 18-year-old girls. She further stated that one 16-year-old girl has a child with a 32-year-old man.  She noted with great concern that in 2024, around this time, there were also 15-year-old mothers. 

“It means even when we are engaging on this matter as a province, there is no chance that it is happening within our society, and that is a serious worry,” she said. 

She urged the mothers of the young girls to take steps and ensure that their girls get justice. Simelane said she was going to engage with the Social Development MEC and discuss what needs to be done in order to assist the families of the young mothers. 

Moreover, Simelane said teenage pregnancy remains a huge problem in our society, and it was concerning that teenagers were giving birth regularly. She said teenage girls are forced to become adults when they are not ready. “It also places their lives and those of these babies at risk.”

She said men needed to have a conscience and understand the harm that they are causing.

“We call on older men to just stop it; we don’t just want to stop there, but we call on the families of these young children to go and open a case, because we cannot continue with this situation.” 

Additionally, Simelane urged parents to have honest conversations with their children about sex and stated that if it was uncomfortable for them, the department offers the services, particularly in clinics. She advised that teenagers get proper information on sexual activities from someone credible. 

“Bring them to us, we will have someone who will be relatable to them and be able to talk to them properly,” she said. 

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za

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