South Africa rang in the new year with a flurry of newborns, welcoming hundreds of babies across the country's public health facilities. The national Department of Health reported at least 650 babies delivered between midnight and 5 pm on January 1st, a testament to the nation's burgeoning population.
However, amidst the celebrations, a disturbing trend emerged: a significant number of teenage mothers, including a 12-year-old girl, gave birth on New Year's Day.
The youngest mother, a 12-year-old, delivered her baby at Frontier Hospital in Makhanda, Eastern Cape. This tragic case prompted a strong response from Eastern Cape Social Development MEC Bukiwe Fanta, who visited Cecilia Makhiwane and Bhisho hospitals on New Year's Day.
She declared, "The perpetrator who impregnated a 12-year-old [girl] must be found and jailed. Whoever impregnates children, no matter who it is, is going to be jailed. We must stop this victimisation of children.”
The incident highlights the urgent need to address the issue of child sexual abuse and teenage pregnancies in South Africa.
Provincial breakdowns of the New Year's Day births reveal a significant number of deliveries across the country. The Eastern Cape welcomed 118 babies (56 boys and 62 girls), Gauteng 203 (105 boys and 98 girls), KwaZulu-Natal 131 (51 boys and 80 girls), and the Western Cape 32 (19 boys and 13 girls). The Free State recorded 24 births, Limpopo 19, Mpumalanga 67, North West 41, and the Northern Cape 19. Final figures are expected to be released by the national health department in the coming days.
Gauteng celebrated the new arrivals with MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko visiting Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto on Wednesday to greet the new parents and present gift packages. Academic hospitals in Gauteng delivered 31 babies, with Chris Hani Baragwanath delivering 20, Dr George Mukhari and Steve Biko four each, and Tembisa and Kalafong six each.
KwaZulu-Natal also saw a significant number of births, with MEC Nomagugu Simelane reporting 117 babies born by 3 pm on New Year's Day. She visited Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, describing it as "the biggest and busiest hospital in the province, which delivers anywhere between 900 and 1 200 babies each month".
She detailed the early births: "Our first New Year baby is a bouncing baby boy who was delivered at Hlabisa Hospital at five minutes past midnight, followed by another boy at seven minutes past midnight."
Hlabisa Hospital recorded five New Year babies, while Prince Mshiyeni had four, St Mary's Hospital seven, Harry Gwala Regional Hospital six, and Newcastle Hospital five.
However, the joy of these new arrivals was tempered by the concerning number of teenage mothers. In KwaZulu-Natal alone, four 16-year-old girls gave birth.
MEC Simelane reported: "One of them gave birth at the Charles Johnson Memorial Hospital in Nquthu, and she was impregnated by a 22-year-old man; while all the three others delivered their babies at the Harry Gwala Regional Hospital. Their babies were fathered by a 16-year-old boy, a 20-year-old man, and a 21-year-old man, respectively."
The province also recorded births to two 17-year-olds and four 18-year-olds. Simelane expressed alarm, stating, “We are worried because when children or young girls fall pregnant, their lives are never the same. In fact, conceiving at an early age poses significant health risks for the young mother and her unborn baby.”
The Western Cape also celebrated its New Year's Day babies, with MEC Mireille Wenger announcing the first arrival, a baby girl, born at George Hospital at 00:07, weighing 2.98kg. Ceres Hospital welcomed a baby boy at 00:39 (4.04kg), and Tygerberg Hospital a baby boy at 01:06 (4.24kg).
Wenger remarked, "The birth of a child is a moment of great joy and hope, symbolising new beginnings. We celebrate with families welcoming their little ones today and urge parents to access the support available to them through our clinics. Together, we can ensure every child starts life with the care they deserve.”
The Free State's first baby arrived at 00:01 at Albert Nzula District Hospital, followed by another at 00:10 at Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital.
