South Africa welcomed the arrival of New Year’s Day babies across the country, with some heartwarming moments and alarming statistics highlighting teenage pregnancies. One of the youngest mothers this year is a 12-year-old girl from the Eastern Cape, whose baby was among the 40 delivered in the province on January 1.
#### Youngest Mother and Alarming Statistics
Eastern Cape MEC for Health Ntandokazi Capa revealed that the 12-year-old girl delivered her baby under challenging circumstances. The father is reportedly 17 years old, and authorities have pledged to investigate the situation further.
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) also reported concerning statistics, with four 16-year-old girls among the youngest mothers to deliver New Year’s babies. One of these girls gave birth at Charles Johnson Memorial Hospital in Nquthu, with the father identified as a 22-year-old man. The other three delivered their babies at Harry Gwala Regional Hospital, fathered by a 16-year-old boy, a 20-year-old man, and a 21-year-old man, respectively.https://twitter.com/SABCNews/status/1874342413306913080?s=19
KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane expressed alarm at the ages of these mothers and the circumstances surrounding their pregnancies. She noted that early pregnancies pose significant health risks for both young mothers and their babies.
“We are deeply concerned about these revelations,” Simelane said. “When young girls fall pregnant, their lives are forever changed. Early pregnancies increase health risks and often limit future opportunities for these young mothers.”
#### Celebration of New Life
Despite the concerns, the country celebrated the arrival of many healthy newborns. Gauteng welcomed 13 babies born on New Year’s Day, with the first delivery taking place precisely at midnight. Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko joined mothers at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital to celebrate the occasion.
KZN was particularly busy, with 117 babies delivered, comprising 73 girls and 44 boys. The first baby, a boy, was born at Hlabisa Hospital at 12:05 a.m., weighing 3.2kg. Another boy followed at 12:07 a.m., weighing 2.7kg.
Hospitals across the province reported numerous births. Hlabisa Hospital recorded five New Year’s Day babies, while Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital welcomed four. St. Mary’s Hospital in Mariannhill delivered seven newborns, Harry Gwala Regional Hospital had six, and Newcastle Hospital recorded five.
#### The Need for Awareness
Simelane emphasized that while new lives bring joy, the high number of teenage mothers remains a pressing issue. She highlighted the importance of addressing societal and educational gaps to prevent such occurrences.
“We must not ignore the broader implications of teenage pregnancies. There is an urgent need for increased education and awareness to protect our young girls and provide them with better opportunities,” she added.
As South Africa celebrates its New Year babies, these stories serve as a poignant reminder of the challenges many young mothers face and the collective responsibility to support them.