Teenage pregnancy – which is often child rape – should enrage us - Fixing the system starts at home, where parents and guardians who shield the perpetrators of sexual assault must be held accountable for their complicity
The issue of child rape, often disguised as teenage pregnancy, is one of the most telling signs of why we should call ourselves a failed society. The Gauteng health department published a report last month that more than 23 000 girls between the ages of 10 and 19 were impregnated between April 2020 and March 2021. LoveLife has since been metabolising the issues emerging from talk radio and social media.
But these are not just numbers, but real people with lives that are left devastated with no consequences for the perpetrators. Finally, and most importantly, we must acknowledge that if we fail to reduce poverty and economic inequality in our country, we will continue to deepen the problem as studies have shown the causal links between the poverty and inequality and teenage pregnancy.
The continued absence of a learner from school means that the school is one of the first to know if a child is pregnant. Educators in the department of education who fail to report a case with SAPS after reporting to the department of social development for social workers to get involved should be charged. This is the starting point of protecting the child.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sewage, chemical spills undermine environmental groups’ KZN marine clean-up - The Mail & GuardianSewage, chemical spills undermine environmental groups’ KZN marine clean-up - Sewage spillages are often result of no maintenance and the UPL chemical factory did not have environmental authorisation
Read more »
Ramaphosa’s unbalanced assessment of Zweli Mkhize ‘an insult’ - The Mail & GuardianRamaphosa’s unbalanced assessment of Zweli Mkhize ‘an insult’ - Desperate to claw back the public’s trust, the president missteped and betrayed his own weak understanding of ethics and the meaning of leadership
Read more »
R85m Umgeni Water tender back in court - The Mail & GuardianR85m Umgeni Water tender back in court - New claims of irregular awards have surfaced over a R85-million a year contract
Read more »
Searching for South Africa’s ‘lost sharks’ to save them from extinction - The Mail & GuardianSearching for South Africa’s ‘lost sharks’ to save them from extinction - Many may be vanishing before our eyes without anyone paying significant attention
Read more »
South Africa needs to breed ‘unicorns’ - The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa needs to breed ‘unicorns’ - A start-up Act that changes exchange control, tax and labour laws will help innovation-driven tech start-ups thrive
Read more »
Zambia’s women protest against gender-based violence - The Mail & GuardianZambia’s women protest against gender-based violence - Zambia has a longstanding reputation for being a safe, peaceful country — except if you’re a woman
Read more »