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The Eastern Cape Department of Health has revealed that 553 young girls under the age of 14 gave birth across the province in the last financial year.
MEC Nomakosazana Meth also noted that 60 cases of statutory rape were reported through the department's Thuthuzela Care Centres.
In a written reply to questions from the Democratic Alliance (DA), Meth further noted that there was no policy in place yet to guide stakeholders who deal with these situations.
However, she said the province was talking to the National Department of Health to lead discussions on policy formulation with other relevant government departments.
According to the MEC's response to DA MPL, Jane Cowley, the young girls who fell pregnant were aged between 10 and 14.
She said that cases of statutory rape at the Department of Health are reported and investigated by their Thuthuzela Care Centres.
MEC Meth said during the first half of the financial year 2023/24, there were 60 cases of statutory rape reported from these centres.
But, Cowley, said these young girls were not emotionally prepared for parenthood, adding that there are also enormous risks giving birth so young.
“If last year’s pregnancy rate is anything to go by, then statutory rape cases are being significantly under-reported. We can accurately assume that less than a quarter of all the births by girl children have been reported as statutory rape,” she lamented in a statement on Monday.
"We need a concerted effort to raise awareness of the dangers of engaging in sexual activity while still so young and the implications of being such young parents.
"The DA is also calling on the National Department of Health, in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, to ensure that there is a policy in place to guide healthcare workers, social workers and the police in dealing with early teenage pregnancies.
"In cases of statutory rape, all perpetrators must be brought to book, whether the family of the underage girl agrees to lay charges or not," Cowley said.
