The DA has written to Liezl Linda van der Merwe, the chairperson of parliament’s women, youth and persons with disabilities committee, requesting a joint meeting to tackle the alarming rise in child and teen pregnancies.
The party wants senior officials from the South African Police Service, the Department of Social Development, the Department of Health, the Department of Basic Education, and the National Prosecuting Authority to attend.
The goal is to address why few perpetrators face prosecution and to fix the broken system that fails vulnerable children.
Three children impregnated every two days
In the 2025/26 financial year, 421 children aged 10 to 14 fell pregnant in KwaZulu-Natal alone.
This means almost three children are being impregnated every two days in just one province.
The DA spokesperson on women, youth and people with disabilities, Angel Khanyile, said these figures point to widespread sexual abuse.
“A child pregnancy is, in many cases, evidence of a crime,” Khanyile said.
She pointed out that South African law is clear: children under 12 cannot consent to sex, and for those aged 12 to 16, consent is not legally valid except in limited peer-age exceptions.
“These figures point to widespread sexual abuse,” Khanyile added.
The DA says the current approach between government departments is divided and failing children. A coordinated system is urgently needed to strengthen reporting, improve case tracking, and make sure cases reach prosecution.
Khanyile highlighted problems on the ground: social workers often fail to report these crimes, and police sometimes refuse to accept cases or do not know how to handle them.
DA calls for a joint sitting in parliament
The perverse reality is that many are unable to complete the onerous paperwork to report the suspected crime or to spend days and weeks in dragged-out court hearings that take them out of their work. The same applies to the doctors, nurses, midwives, and other clinicians involved,” she said.
Both the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act and the Children’s Act impose mandatory reporting obligations.
Where a child under 16 is pregnant, there is at least a reasonable suspicion of a sexual offence, and reporting is required.
“The DA will not let this situation go on. Children are being raped and impregnated, and responsible authorities are not doing what they need to do,” Khanyile stated.
She called for a joint sitting to deliver a unified reporting protocol, proper case tracking, and real accountability.
“The joint sitting we are calling for must deliver a unified reporting protocol, proper case tracking, and accountability to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice and sent to jail. The law is clear; government must act.”
ALSO READ: Gauteng security guard sentenced to life over rape of minor
- The DA has written to Liezl Linda van der Merwe, the chairperson of parliament’s women, youth and persons with disabilities committee, requesting a joint meeting to tackle the alarming rise in child and teen pregnancies.
- The party wants senior officials from the South African Police Service, the Department of Social Development, the Department of Health, the Department of Basic Education, and the National Prosecuting Authority to attend.
- The goal is to address why few perpetrators face prosecution and to fix the broken system that fails vulnerable children.
- Three children impregnated every two days In the 2025/26 financial year, 421 children aged 10 to 14 fell pregnant in KwaZulu-Natal alone.
- This means almost three children are being impregnated every two days in just one province.
