The ANC is not winning the battle to solve teenage pregnancies

STARTLING figures came from the Department of Health recently, for the period, April last year to March this year, on teenage pregnancies.

A staggering 23 266 teenagers were impregnated – a case of “children burdened to carry children!” Add to that, Bheki Cele’s sombre figures of 10 066 confirmed rape cases in the second quarter of this year and South Africa really becomes a dangerous and sick society to live in.

Indubitably, rape and teenage pregnancies are Siamese twins, joined at the umbilical cord of fear, distress, emotional scarring and shame. While both are Kafkaesque deeds that invade the soul and violate the essence of femininity, let’s try to probe some of the many causes of teenage pregnancy.

Some girls as young as 10 are falling pregnant. Illiteracy and poverty are the main causes. However, there are other societal causes like pluralistic ignorance and possibly a hierarchy of cultural beliefs. How do we teach young girls that engaging in unprotected sex can lead to HIV and unwanted pregnancies? Is the sex education at schools sending the opposite message? As this problem predominantly affects the Black population, are parents not taking the time and cue to discuss these problems with their daughters?

Many teenagers are brought up by single moms. An absent father means the girls are treated as commonland, without fences or borders. And so it is easy to trespass their virginity and dignity! The lack of parental supervision is ever present. If circumstances demand that both parents work away from home, then the youngsters are left with guardians – most of the time ageing grandparents who can’t keep up with their restlessness and so it’s sowing season for them. Poverty is a another huge problem. Many engage in prostitution just to put food on the table.

Another worrying culture is the “blesser and blessed” syndrome – sugar daddies – normally businessmen, taxi drivers and even school teachers who pamper the every whim and fancy of nubile young girls in return for sexual favours.

Finally, their way of thinking and subsequent behaviour need to be radically transformed. There may be a cultural thinking inheritance that more kids will bring greater wealth and bigger families will increase the puissance of the clan. Sadly this is not true. Public figures like Julius Malema who continuously coax the masses to have more children, will sadly only result in a continued majority for the ANC. And, the ANC is not winning the battle to solve the issue of teenage pregnancies, neither the eradication of our title as the rape capital of the world.

KEVIN GOVENDER | Shallcross