The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is alarmed by the escalating crisis of girl children falling pregnant by adult men in South Africa.
HEALTHCARE CENTRES
This comes after the Social Development released the stats about the rise of girl child being impregnated adult males. In their stats, the Social Development said more than 2700 girls, aged between 10 and 14, gave birth in public healthcare centres in 2023/2024 financial year. "Parents or carers of these children do not lay criminal charges of statutory rape often because of financial compensation from the child rapists. This leaves girl children unprotected by their families and with no agency to protect themselves. What is even more enraging is that it is within the government's power to intervene by investigating and prosecuting for statutory rape," the statement read.
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
The EFF said that there are four government departments who are first responders to this horror of child pregnancy, which are Basic Education, Social Development, Health and South African Police Service.
"It is the government responsibility to step up. However, the government does not, making them responsible for violating children's Bill of Rights.
Not only is this government responsible for violating children rights to justice and protection, it goes as far as proudly reporting this treachery as if it is powerless with no recourse. This display of hatred for children by the government fuels child rapists to continue with impunity," the statement read.
The highest numbers are in KwaZulu-Natal with 610 cases, Gauteng with 430, Eastern Cape with 395 and Limpopo with 375.
"This is a clear indication of a society plagued by predators who exploit children, many of whom are forced into these dire situations by the crippling effects of poverty. In the same period, almost 120,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 gave birth in the same public healthcare facilities," the statement concluded. Catch Manyonyoba on Moja Love (DStv channel 157) tomorrow at 21h30pm to see the impact of child predators.
