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 3000 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 2000 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 3000 girls are pregnant. I should put in on record that some of the girls in the targeted 2000 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.
mashabas@sowetan.co.za
Schooling in the past for girls
A 15-YEAR-old girl sits on a chair outside her 18-year-old boyfriend's home in Mareetsane village, North West.
She is taking a breather from her daughter who was born three months ago.
The girl, like many others from Maseanyaneng section, did not return to school this year after realising that she was pregnant. She was in Grade 4 last year.
Her mother died when she was four and she was raised by relatives.
But when she fell pregnant, she moved in with her boyfriend and his family.
The baby's father, also a school dropout, does piece jobs.
"I want to go back to school next year, but I do not know who is going to take care of my child," she said.
In the same section, a heavily pregnant 16-year-old is basking in the sun.
She did not want to talk much about who made her pregnant, but said it was an older man.
Her aunt said: "I am used to this. It's a norm in this village. Her sister also had two children and left them with me. She went to Johannesburg to seek employment."
A 19-year-old girl is pregnant with her third child. Her other children are aged four and five.
She said she used the three-year family planning injection after her second baby.
"It did not work. I told the nurses at the clinic who took me to the hospital for an ultrasound and it was discovered that I am indeed pregnant."
She said the children's father worked at a nearby farm.
"He does not give me a lot of money, but the little he has."
None of the girls nor their parents and guardians have opened statutory rape or rape cases.
In another house, a 16-year-old girl is a mother to four children.
Sowetan could not find anyone when we visited the tiny hut. It was unlocked and the door was open. Inside was a dirty mattress on the floor with a few clothes and blankets on it.
A neighbour said: "The girl always asks me for porridge. She is 16 and has four children. Her disabled mother has five children."
It was not known whether this family received social grants.
tshehleb@sowetan.co.za
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 3000 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 2000 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 3000 girls are pregnant. I should put in on record that some of the girls in the targeted 2000 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.
mashabas@sowetan.co.za
Schooling in the past for girls
A 15-YEAR-old girl sits on a chair outside her 18-year-old boyfriend's home in Mareetsane village, North West.
She is taking a breather from her daughter who was born three months ago.
The girl, like many others from Maseanyaneng section, did not return to school this year after realising that she was pregnant. She was in Grade 4 last year.
Her mother died when she was four and she was raised by relatives.
But when she fell pregnant, she moved in with her boyfriend and his family.
The baby's father, also a school dropout, does piece jobs.
"I want to go back to school next year, but I do not know who is going to take care of my child," she said.
In the same section, a heavily pregnant 16-year-old is basking in the sun.
She did not want to talk much about who made her pregnant, but said it was an older man.
Her aunt said: "I am used to this. It's a norm in this village. Her sister also had two children and left them with me. She went to Johannesburg to seek employment."
A 19-year-old girl is pregnant with her third child. Her other children are aged four and five.
She said she used the three-year family planning injection after her second baby.
"It did not work. I told the nurses at the clinic who took me to the hospital for an ultrasound and it was discovered that I am indeed pregnant."
She said the children's father worked at a nearby farm.
"He does not give me a lot of money, but the little he has."
None of the girls nor their parents and guardians have opened statutory rape or rape cases.
In another house, a 16-year-old girl is a mother to four children.
Sowetan could not find anyone when we visited the tiny hut. It was unlocked and the door was open. Inside was a dirty mattress on the floor with a few clothes and blankets on it.
A neighbour said: "The girl always asks me for porridge. She is 16 and has four children. Her disabled mother has five children."
It was not known whether this family received social grants.
tshehleb@sowetan.co.za
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