Teen moms avoid healthcare amid fears of reporting rape, discloses KZN health MEC

The health of teen moms and their babies hangs in the balance as young rape victims are too scared to access formal healthcare when giving birth.

This was revealed by KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, who said this is owing to the laws compelling those in authority to report the rape.

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Speaking at a meeting of the Provincial Council on Aids in Durban last Thursday, Simelane expressed her deep concern over the growing number of teenage and child pregnancies, particularly those involving adult men.

“This issue is both a health crisis and a social justice emergency that requires urgent intervention,” she said.

“This puts young girls at high risk, especially when they are forced to give birth in unsafe conditions. South African law defines statutory rape as any sexual activity with a person under the age of 16, and makes the reporting of such cases to law enforcement mandatory.”

Simelane believes that an urgent and collaborative dialogue involving parents, traditional leaders, civil society and the government is needed to decisively address this disturbing pattern.

“I want to make a proposal that we lead from the front in combatting this crisis. We need to come together and deal with this matter head on because these activities are happening right where we are. Children get pregnant in our societies in our communities.

“Unless we talk about it and act decisively, we will continue to see young lives destroyed. We are raising a broken generation if we remain silent.”

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