Suspect arrested for impregnating a 13-year-old girl

A 28-year-old man was arrested for statutory rape after allegedly impregnating a 13-year-old girl who gave birth to Christmas day at Seshego Hospital, Limpopo.

RAMATHUBA PRAISES THE POLICE FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE

Conformable TimesLIVELimpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba praised SAPS members for their quick response to the situation.

She said it was their responsibility to ensure justice acted according to the seriousness of the crime.

She says, “Statutory rape is visible in many parts of our province and we need to end such a sad chapter.”

The suspect is currently in custody and will appear in court soon.

OVER 30 TEENAGERS WERE BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Conformable SABC Newsabout 31 teenagers gave birth on Christmas Day.

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has expressed concern about the rising rate of teenage pregnancy. She mentioned that three 15-year-old girls gave birth at Hlabisa and St. Aidan from KwaZulu-Natal.

“Two of the fathers are 19 years old, while the third is a 23-year-old who impregnated a 14-year-old woman. This is not acceptable and as a society we must stand up and fight against the scourge. We also have a 16-year-old mother and a 17-year-old mother who gave birth at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital and another 19-year-old who gave birth at Escourt Hospital,” Simelane said.

She added that there is an 18-year-old who gave birth at the Church of Scotland Hospital, pointing out that they are the youngest mothers of their babies at Christmas.

She urged parents to take full responsibility for their children.

Over 350 teenagers give birth every day in SA

Bhekisisa noted that almost 365 teenagers give birth in South Africa every day. Poorer provinces have a higher rate of teenage pregnancies.

The Eastern Cape has the most teenage pregnancies in the country, followed by the Northern Cape, while Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal share third place. The Western Cape and Gauteng are the only two provinces with a lower rate.

President of the College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of South Africa, Zozo Nene, says there is a lack of sexuality education and access to health services such as contraceptives and abortions in the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape.

She says teenagers are not mature enough to understand that sex has consequences.

“Parents and teachers often don’t discuss sex and sexuality with them because they are seen as ‘kids.’ Initially, they may hide the pregnancy, not recognizing what a missed period means, and later, out of shame, this leaves them to deal with the pregnancy on their own,” she said.

PREGNANCY PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR ADOLESCENTS

Teens can use these few ExIT to prevent pregnancy.

Abstinence – Abstinence from sex is a 100% guaranteed way to prevent pregnancy. It means not having sex.

Contraceptives – Different types of contraceptives can be used to prevent pregnancy:

• Condoms
• Oral contraception (the pill),
• Injection
• Implanon

There is also an emergency pill that you can take within 3-5 days if you have had unprotected sex.

What other strategies can be used to prevent teenage pregnancy?

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