Festive season data puts adolescent pregnancy back in the national spotlight. Picture Credit: iStock
By Aisha Zardad
South Africa – The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has called for intensified national efforts to prevent adolescent pregnancy following reports that more than 30 teenage mothers gave birth in public hospitals across South Africa on Christmas Day.
Chikunga said the figures underscore a persistent social challenge that continues to undermine the health, education and long-term prospects of young people, particularly girls. She urged teenage boys and girls, parents, educators, communities and social partners to take collective responsibility in addressing the issue.
“Adolescent pregnancy remains a serious social and developmental challenge in South Africa,” Chikunga said, warning that it often results in interrupted schooling, increased dropout rates, limited economic opportunities, and heightened vulnerability to poverty and gender-based violence.
She stressed that the impact extends beyond young mothers alone. “These consequences affect not only teenage girls, but also young boys, families and communities at large,” she said.
Chikunga emphasised that preventing adolescent pregnancy requires shared accountability, noting that teenage girls must be empowered with knowledge, self-confidence and adequate support to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures.
“Preventing adolescent pregnancy is a shared responsibility,” she said. “Teenage girls must be empowered with the tools to make informed choices, while teenage boys must also be actively involved.”
She added that boys and young men need to understand that respect, accountability and responsibility are central to healthy relationships and life choices.
The minister encouraged young people to prioritise education and long-term goals, delay sexual activity until they are mentally and emotionally ready, resist peer pressure, and report any form of coercion or abuse. She also urged them to seek guidance from parents, caregivers, teachers, social workers and health professionals, and to access accurate, age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health information from clinics, schools and trusted sources.
Parents and caregivers were called on to create safe spaces for open and honest conversations, while schools and community structures were urged to strengthen life skills education, youth development initiatives and psychosocial support programmes.
Chikunga said her call aligns with key government frameworks, including the National Development Plan, the National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Framework, and the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, all of which recognise early prevention and youth empowerment as essential to breaking cycles of vulnerability.
“Protecting young people from early and unplanned parenthood is about safeguarding their rights, dignity and future,” she said. “Our children deserve opportunities to learn, grow and thrive without being forced into adult responsibilities too early.”
Her remarks followed data released by the Department of Health, which reported that 714 babies were born in public health facilities nationwide between midnight and midday on Christmas Day. The first baby of Christmas Day 2025 was born at Elim Hospital in Limpopo at midnight, followed by births at Tonga Hospital in Mpumalanga and Elizabeth Ross District Hospital in the Free State shortly thereafter.
While commending healthcare workers for ensuring the safety of mothers and newborns during the festive period, the department expressed concern about the continued high number of teenage mothers, noting that several provinces reported mothers as young as 15.
The Department of Health reiterated its commitment to strengthening maternal, neonatal and child health services, while urging parents to invest in exclusive breastfeeding and routine immunisation, which protect infants from preventable diseases and improve survival, particularly in the early months of life.
