Stats SA records over 100,000 births by teen mothers since January 2024

A social movement advocating for mothers has raised concerns about the high number of children giving birth over the festive period.

This comes after the Social Development and Health Departments reported that 21 children were born to teenagers aged between15 and 19 years in the Eastern Cape on New Year's Day.

Statistics South African (Stats SA) has recorded more than 100,000 births by mothers aged 19 and younger between 1 January 2024 and 28 February 2025.

Embrace Movement for Mothers spokesperson Nonkululeko Mbuli said it is a massive concern that needs to be addressed.

"What we tend to do as a society is reduce teenage pregnancy to an individual moral failing on the part of the young girl or teenager who has become a mother, but we need to be looking at this issue holistically, systematically and structurally as well," said Mbuli.