GEORGE NEWS - The revelation that 296 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 fell pregnant in the Western Cape during the 2024/25 financial year has intensified concerns about child sexual abuse, with calls for stronger accountability and intervention from government departments and law enforcement agencies.
Of the 296 teen births, 69 girls aged 10 to 14 gave birth in Garden Route and Central Karoo health facilities between April 2025 and March 2026.
DA Western Cape spokesperson on Social Development, Wendy Kaizer-Philander, described the figures as deeply disturbing, saying they point to systemic failures in protecting children.
"When a child as young as 10 years old presents as pregnant, there can be no ambiguity: this is evidence of child sexual abuse and, at a minimum, statutory rape," she said. "Failure to report, investigate, and prosecute cases of child rape and statutory rape not only denies victims justice but also encourages a culture of impunity for perpetrators."
She confirmed that the Western Cape Parliament's Standing Committee on Social Development will call on the departments of Social Development, Education (WCED), and Health and Wellness, alongside the National Prosecuting Authority and Police Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, to account for interventions, reporting systems, and enforcement outcomes.
Western Cape Government Health and Wellness responds
Western Cape Government Health and Wellness says it continues to prioritise adolescent health through youth-friendly clinics, reproductive health services, and community-based prevention programmes.
District spokesperson Nadia Ferreira confirmed the 69 teen births.
All pregnancies involving girls under 16 are legally reported to social services and the police, triggering protective and investigative responses. Ferreira said the department works with schools, parents and other stakeholders to support young people and reduce risky behaviour. "Our collective goal is clear: to empower adolescents with knowledge, provide supportive and accessible services, and create safe, nurturing environments," she said.
Western Cape Education Deparment responds
The WCED said learner pregnancy prevention remains a priority through life orientation curricula, district support teams, and awareness programmes aimed at improving decision-making and risk awareness. The department recorded 1 860 learner pregnancies in 2024 across all school-going ages. It stressed that where pregnancies stem from sexual assault, schools must activate child protection protocols and ensure psychosocial support for affected learners.
Spokesperson Kerry Mauchline said prevention remains central. "First and foremost, we want to prevent learner pregnancy from happening in the first place, which requires a whole-of-society approach," she said.
She added that it remains critical that pregnant learners are supported to continue and complete their education, with counselling and psychosocial services available through schools.
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