Plan to assist young moms
THE North West department of social development could not say how many girls were pregnant in Mareetsane village.
This was after it was reported on Sunday that there were 3 000 girls, some as young as 12, who were pregnant in the village.
In a media statement issued last Tuesday, department spokesman Petrus Siko said Social Development Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu and acting MEC Fenny Gaolaolwe would hold an assembly where 4000 young mothers were expected to attend.
“The purpose of the assembly is to give girls below 18 years an opportunity to interact with government about the challenges they face in raising children, develop comprehensive intervention programmes that are responsive to the realities of children who have children, raise awareness on the abuse of alcohol and drugs and develop a mentorship programme where girls adopt other girls,” Siko said.
Yesterday, Siko said the number of pregnant girls was “blown out of proportion”.
“[The] department of social development had a girls assembly at Mareetsane village on Sunday to allow 2 000 teenage mothers from 14 wards in Ratlou municipality an opportunity to voice social challenges they encounter.
“Unfortunately, media has blown the targeted number of girls out of proportion saying more than 3 000 girls are pregnant. I should put in on record that some of the girls in the targeted 2 000 are pregnant, others are not, but they do have babies or kids,” Siko said.
He said the department had “developed a plan to intervene by providing the teen moms with child healthcare packages and training in parenting skills. Siko said they also hoped to open cases of statutory rape and incest.