In a media statement released by the Eastern Cape Department of Health. The Eastern Cape welcomed 114 New Year’s Day babies between 12 am and 5 pm.
Of those 114, 61 are reported to be girls and 53 are boys. OR Tambo District so far is believed to have delivered the most number of babies with 26, followed by Nelson Mandela Bay at 24, while Sarah Baartman accounts for the least number of January 1st babies with only five.
The first baby was born at 12.37 am at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane.
Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane and MEC for Health Nomakhosazana Meth visited Uitehage Provincial Hospital in Nelson Mandela on the 1st of January 2023 and handed out gifts to New Year’s Day babies.
Premier Mabuyane welcomed the babies.
“We congratulate the mother’s on successfully giving birth and welcome the children because they are a gift from God, he said.
MEC Meth supported the Premier.
“We are here to celebrate the newborns, the new year and the new everything. We are very happy. We congratulate the mothers and the fathers”, she said.
However MEC Meth expressed concern on the new mothers, 38 of which are teenagers with the youngest being three 14-year-olds.
The MEC called everyone to play their role in curbing teenage pregnancy, stating that if abuse is suspected, authorities should be notified.
“There is no way that a 13-year-old or 14-year-old can legally consent to sex”, said MEC Meth.
The department says final statistics of New Year’s Day babies were released on the 2nd of January 2023.
