Cape Town – KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has urged parents to report statutory rape cases involving men who impregnate girls under 18, highlighting societal issues and the need for police intervention.
His appeal came after the delivery of 47 babies in the province, including three born to 15-year-old mothers on 25 December.
According to SABC News, Ntuli emphasised that sexual relations with minors constituted a serious crime and encouraged parents not to avoid reporting such cases, even if the perpetrator offered financial support.
“The news that there are 14 and 15-year-old children who were impregnated by the older men – we are worried, and that shows that there’s something wrong in our society. We are worried, and we are hopeful that police do play their role when the reports are made because the unfortunate part is that parents, at times, when such incidents happen, will say we cannot report to the police because maybe the father might take care of a child, whereas to impregnate someone who is a minor, we know that the criminal case. So, it is a serious rape to have any intercourse with a child of that age. So, I encourage parents to go and report to the police,” the report quoted Ntuli as saying during a media briefing.
The Deputy Minister of @HomeAffairsS, Njabulo Nzuza together with @NkomoNomantu and Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza issuing babies born of Christmas Day with birth certificates. There are Home Affairs offices across Gauteng hospitals, mostly located near maternity wards to ensure… pic.twitter.com/swh83kHEtE
— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) December 25, 2024
Meanwhile, according to EWN, Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane praised medical staff for their dedication and described the newborns as symbols of hope and new beginnings.
However, the birth of babies to seven teenage mothers, aged 15 to 19, including cases involving a 23-year-old father, underscored the issue of teenage pregnancies, the report said.
Simelane called for societal action to address this ongoing challenge.
“What concerns us is that this situation of girls falling pregnant at a young age is not a phenomenon that is unique to Christmas Day. It is something that happens on a regular basis. It reflects a broader societal challenge. As a society, this is something that we really need to start working and fighting against,” she said, according to the report.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
