13 Mar 2019

Men Sector Committee chairperson for Moshupa Sub-district, Mr Kagiso Molefhi, has advised men to stay away from school girls.

Mr Molefhi said this on the sidelines of a recent Pitso ya Borre football tournament in Moshupa.

He said, in the 2017/18 financial year, the area recorded 105 cases of teenage pregnancy out of which two girls were under the age of 15.

He said a further 54 cases were registered from July last year to date and described the situation as a serious cause for concern.

Mr Molefhi said most of the girls were impregnated by men who usually enticed them with money in exchange for sex.

Needy school girls from disadvantaged families were easy targets.

He warned that having sexual relationships with school girls derailed them from their purpose, exposed them to sexually transmitted diseases and ruined their future.

He said girls should be allowed to complete school and decide what to do with their future.

Mr Molefhi further explained that they organised the tournament with a view to reach as many men as they possibly could.

He also raised concern about HIV prevalence in the sub district and challenged men to be in the driving seat on issues of sexuality.

He said 1 192 new HIV cases were recorded in 2017/18. He said the tournament was aimed at encouraging men to join the fight against HIVAIDS without being pushed.

He said they targeted men because they were usually key decision makers on whether or not to use protection during sex.

Mr Molefhi was however disappointed that out of 115 people who attended the event, only 12 tested for HIV.

He said his committee would continue coming up with innovative ways to reach men adding that multiple concurrent sexual partnerships and low uptake of Safe Male Circumcision were still matters of concern and encouraged men to act responsibly at all times.

He advised Moshupa social clubs to devise social responsibility activities for the village such as litter picking or helping needy families. ENDS