- Urgent Call for Reporting Child Sexual Offences: The Eastern Cape Provincial Government urges parents, families, and communities to report cases of child sexual offences promptly, following alarming statistics of childbirths in minors.
- High Incidence of Child Births in the Province: Between April and July 2025, 117 children aged 10 to 14 and 4 752 teenagers aged 15 to 19 gave birth in public health facilities, with the highest numbers in OR Tambo, Buffalo City, and Nelson Mandela Bay.
- Legal Framework and Challenges in Justice: The Sexual Offences Act of 2007 criminalizes sexual conduct with minors, and authorities emphasize the importance of reporting such cases, although some cases have been withdrawn, undermining justice.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has called on parents, families, and communities to urgently report cases of child sexual offences after alarming statistics revealed that 117 children aged 10 to 14 years gave birth in provincial hospitals between April and July 2025.
The Eastern Cape Health Department further reported that 4 752 teenagers aged 15 to 19 also delivered in public facilities during the same period. The highest number of child births was recorded in OR Tambo District, followed by Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay.
Provincial authorities stressed that the Sexual Offences Act of 2007 makes it a crime for any person to engage in sexual conduct with a minor, and Section 54(1) compels anyone with knowledge of such offences to report them to the SAPS. Several rape cases involving minors have been opened, but three were later withdrawn, which government says undermines justice.
Social Development MEC Bukiwe Fanta described the situation as unacceptable and emphasized that R103 million has been allocated this year for child protection programmes, including RISHA sites reaching over 22 000 vulnerable children and support to 28 Child and Youth Care centres.
Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa added that every case reported in health facilities is treated as statutory rape. She emphasised prevention through youth-friendly services, school health programmes, and contraceptive access.
The Provincial Executive Council urged communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicion of abuse.“Protecting children is a moral and legal obligation,” the government said.
