Teenage pregnancy crisis: Over 117,000 girls aged 10-19 gave birth in South Africa

During an Indaba on Adolescent Pregnancy, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel revealed that in the period 2024/25, 117,195 girls aged 10–19 gave birth and emphasized the importance of children knowing they cannot legally give consent to sex at the age of 12.

Earlier this year, The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness revealed that children as young as 11 years old are finding themselves in their maternity wards while the Education Department confirmed their school drop out numbers were largely due to teen pregnancies.

Shocking statistics were released this week to the Cape Argus, where the Department of Health and Wellness said that over the past three financial years, adolescent deliveries have risen by 26.66%, highlighting the ongoing challenges in addressing teenage pregnancies despite existing interventions.

They said data showcases that delivery for women/children between the ages of 11 and 19 years old had reached 8114 between the period of 2022/2023, 9938 for 2023/2024, 10277 for 2024/2025.The conference was held at the OR Tambo Conference Centre, where Nel said a young girl's future was being crippled by teenage pregnancy.

He said despite progress being made, we should acknowledge that the adolescent fertility rate has declined to 42 per 1,000 girls aged 15–19.He shared however that in 2024/25, 117,195 girls aged 10–19 gave birth." That means one hundred and seventeen thousand dreams interrupted. One hundred and seventeen thousand futures diverted," he explained

"And among them, over 1,400 were between the ages of 10 and 14. "These are children - children who should be enjoying school, forming new friendships, playing, and discovering their talents in a safe environment."  Childhood should be a time for learning and growth, for dreaming big dreams, not facing adult responsibilities like pregnancy."

Nel added that often there may be some boys who become fathers at a very young age.  "Becoming a father too young often disrupts their education and places heavy emotional and financial burdens on their futures as well.

"Teenage parenthood is not just a girls' issue - it reshapes the lives of boys as well." He added that their department committed to assisting in the plight, by making sure children knew their rights. "As the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, we need to make the message very clear," he stated.

"No child under 12 can consent to sex. Any pregnancy in this age group is rape, and it must be reported. "For children aged 12–15, the law allows consensual activity only within a narrow age band. Anything beyond that is statutory rape.

"For those aged 16–17, consent is recognized - but if the act was not consensual, it is rape, and justice must prevail. "In instances of rape and other sexual offences our Sexual Offences Courts and Thuthuzela Care Centres stand as beacons of victim centred justice.

"They remind survivors: you are not alone, you are protected, you are heard."

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Cape Argus