In light of the fact that more than 9 000 cases of teenage pregnancy were realised in the province during the past year, has given enough reason to seek legal means to bring perpetrators to account for these outrageous statistics which have not only brought about shame on the province, but sheer negligence in protecting underaged females.
MEC for Health, Sasekani Manzini, officiating at receiving New Year Babies on 1 January 2026, expressed a dire concern pertaining to the high number of underaged teenagers who have been dominating statistics of baby-making within the province and expressed a dire concern in the increasing numbers.
“We’re here today to welcome our New Year babies, which at the moment stands at more than 50 babies born on this day throughout the province. The first baby was born in Emalahleni where we were with the Premier on Christmas Day. Here at Shongwe Hospital, we received five babies by midday.
She said of rising concern to the department and the Premier, are the increasing numbers of teenagers who dominate statistics among mothers of both Christmas and New Year babies born in this province.
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“This has raised a serious concern among the leadership of the province to investigate the circumstances surrounding this dastardly occurrence of increasing cases of teenage pregnancy and motherhood. Surely, this exposes the fact that there exists no sexual education to this generation and subsequently, this looks like some may emerge as cases of sexual abuse by elderly figures in our communities and calls for a drastic clampdown on this seemingly Gender Based Violence (GBV) meted out against young girls in our communities.”
Manzini added that the department will, therefore, respond by collecting data from the affected individuals to ascertain if their pregnancies occurred as a result of forced sexual activity or any other way it took place.
“Should there be consent with the perpetrators, we will follow legal procedures by escalating information collected to our colleagues in the Department of Social Development, who will escalate their findings to legal experts who will ascertain if charges have to be brought against the perpetrators or not.
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Overall, it’s a serious concern for girls under 14 to be constantly counted among baby makers each time during the festive season. Nevertheless, effective ways to tackle this scourge, has to be implemented, but the perpetrators who will be revealed by our investigations, will face the might of the law by being punished accordingly,” concluded MEC Manzini.
Manzini welcomed newborn babies for the year 2026 at Shongwe Hospital and appreciated the healthcare workers who have been working throughout the festive season and beyond.
