04 Sep 2024

Good Hope District continues to experience high levels of teenage pregnancy, despite interventions in schools and clinics to curb the scourge.

Speaking during the ongoing full council meeting on Tuesday, the Chairperson of the Good Hope District Council, Mr Kenaleone Motsaathebe expressed concern about the rising number of children who drop out of school due to teenage pregnancy.

Mr Motsaathebe explained that in the fourth quarter of 2023/24 the constituency experienced 39 cases of teenage pregnancy. Thirty two cases occurred during the last quarter.

He said Good Hope was the most affected with nine girls, followed by Mmathethe with five, Pitsane with four and Ramatlabama with three dropouts.

He called upon parents to have frank conversations with their adolescent children about sex, relationships and pregnancy prevention.

Concerning crime, Mr Motsaathebe applauded the four police stations for performing well during the period of under review, recording a 12 per cent decrease of the targeted crime. 

The four police stations recorded 84 cases as opposed to 98 cases registered the same quarter last year.

Statistics reveal that all targeted offences were substantially reduced. However, Ramatlabama experienced an increase in rape cases recording nine cases against one recorded same quarter last year.

Mr Motsaathebe expressed concern about the rising number in the reported cases of violence against children.

To date, he said, 84-child related cases have been registered of which children in conflict with the law were 22, GBV 10, child in need of protection six, child abuse 39 while relationship matters were five.

He urged the leadership of the district and all stakeholders to address the causes of these acts. He stated that it was the public’s duty to protect children. Ends