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31 min ago
Christmas babies | Concerns over teen pregnancies
POLOKWANE - Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba says society and communities should do more to protect and support young women.
She says the police will be looking into the men involved with teenage girls who’ve given birth in the province.
One of the youngest mothers is a 15-year-old who gave birth at Malamulele hospital.
Authorities say the increasing amount of teen mothers is concerning.
"We need to look into each case and police must be involved," she said.
"Anyone who is below the age of 16, you are right that is statutory rape.
"We’re doing this because we need to protect the children.
"All these teenagers who have given birth, we need to hand them over to social development, follow them then hand them back to basic education. They need to go back to school because they often drop out after giving birth," Ramathuba said.
"The majority of teenagers who give birth are also orphans, they don’t have a support system at home. As a society, we’ve got to come in and ensure that we play that parental role."