By OBAKENG MAJE
23 June 2025- The North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie calls on various communities to join hands with the government in its effort to curb teenage pregnancy in the province. Dantjie’s plea follows the recent cases of statutory rape involving three young girls in Christiana.
She further said three cases were reported to Lekwa Teemane Service Point on 19 June 2025, by the police after the nursing sister and medical practitioner filed the cases following consultations with three teenage girls aged 14 and 15. Dantjie added that the other minor’s age is still to be confirmed.
“The three visited the local clinic and were confirmed to be pregnant. The absence of parental accompaniment during their clinic visits raised significant concerns regarding inadequate parental care and supervision.
“Upon preliminary investigation conducted by professional social workers comprised of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) social worker, probation officer and ward supervisor, it was discovered that two of the three minor girls aged 14 and 15, had already given birth while the other one is expected to give birth in August 2025,” she said.
Dantjie said a girl (14), was impregnated by a boy (17), a girl (16) by a man (18), while the age of the boyfriend of a girl (15) is still to be verified. She expressed disappointment on the three statutory rape cases.
“The government has implemented measures to address teenage pregnancy in schools such as the integrated school health programme, which is led by the North West Department Education, Health and Social Development.
“These programmes include family preservation. Our department has also partnered with the Shout it Now organisation to educate young people about HIV, teenage pregnancy and other social ills across the province,” said Dantjie.
She said: “We cannot be deterred by these incidents in our resolve to prevent teenage pregnancy and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in our communities.
“Our social workers, including our social cluster departments and the civil society organisations are on the ground to break the barrier of ignorance among young girls by educating them about teenage pregnancy and other social pathologies that are tormenting our communities.”
Dantjie said that the issue of teenage pregnancy requires the collaborative efforts of key role players, which include parents, teachers, guardians and the community at large. She said social workers will continue to render family preservation services, psychosocial support and parenting skills to the young girls.
“They will also be referred to a psychologist in order to prevent them from possible cyber bullying and stigmatisation.
“In addition, the probation officer will ensure that therapeutic services are rendered through possible diversion programmes to the alleged perpetrators if deemed appropriate after thorough investigation,” said Dantjie.
The Guardian 