Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla, has expressed grave concern following reports of a 14-year-old child giving birth to twins on Christmas Day, describing the incident as deeply distressing and a stark reminder of the persistent challenge of teenage pregnancy.
Dladla stated that the incident raised serious child protection, legal and societal concerns, particularly regarding the continued sexual exploitation of minors.
Dladla stated unequivocally that any pregnancy involving a girl under the age of 18 constituted a serious criminal offence.
In terms of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act of 2018, engaging in sexual activity with a minor is illegal, regardless of consent, and amounts to statutory rape.
“I expect that this matter will be thoroughly investigated by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and that the perpetrator will be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” she said.
She further emphasised that the case highlighted the urgent need to strengthen enforcement of child protection laws, including the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act of 2012.
RELATED | Concern as 14-year-olds give birth at MGH
The Act places a legal duty on parents, guardians, communities and institutions to report cases of abuse and protect children from harm.
Failure to report or act on suspected abuse, she noted, contributed to the continued violation of children’s rights and allows such incidents to persist within communities.
Teenage pregnancy, according to Dladla, remained a national social challenge with far-reaching consequences for the health, education and future prospects of young girls.
Early pregnancies expose minors to serious health risks, disrupt their education and often entrench families in cycles of poverty and vulnerability.
She further stated that the DPM’s office was attempting various ways to curb such cases, by rolling out community-based awareness programmes, strengthening comprehensive sexuality education, improving access to adolescent reproductive health services and enhancing reporting as well as response mechanisms for child abuse cases.
Regarding the specific case of the 14-year-old mother, Dladla said the DPM’s Office would direct Social Welfare Services to ensure that both the minor and her twins receive immediate and ongoing support.
| Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has raised alarm after a
14-year-old gave birth to twins, calling for urgent investigations and stronger
enforcement of child protection laws.
This included access to medical care, psychosocial counselling and social assistance, with the child’s safety, dignity and long-term wellbeing prioritised.
Dladla has also called upon parents, guardians, community leaders, chiefs and faith-based organisations to take a firm stand against the sexual exploitation of minors and actively report all suspected cases of abuse.
“Protecting children is a collective responsibility and must be treated as a national priority,” she said.
…SWAGAA condemns teenage pregnancy
Eswatini Action Group against Abuse (SWAGAA) has expressed deep concern and outrage over the reported case of a 14-year-old child who gave birth to twins on Christmas Day, describing the incident as a clear case of sexual violence against a minor and failure of child protection systems.
Speaking on the matter, SWAGAA Director Nonhlanhla Dlamini said the case should not be viewed merely as teenage pregnancy, but as a serious criminal offence that demanded urgent action from law enforcement.
“A 14-year-old child cannot legally consent to sexual activity. Under the laws of Eswatini, this constitutes statutory rape,” Dlamini said.
She emphasised that the focus must not be placed on the child who gave birth, but on identifying and holding accountable the perpetrator responsible for impregnating the minor.
Dlamini noted that the case reflected a disturbing trend in which sexual abuse of children was often normalised or reduced to a social issue, rather than treated as a serious crime.
She said when a child gives birth, society tends to respond with sympathy alone, while justice was delayed or denied.
“This culture of silence and inaction emboldens perpetrators and continues to put more girls at risk,” she said.
Dlamini has called for immediate intervention by the Royal Eswatini Police Service, the Director of Public Prosecutions and Social Welfare Services to ensure that the case is thoroughly investigated.
She further stressed the need for the child to receive comprehensive support, including medical care, trauma counselling and protection from further harm.
Beyond the specific incident, Dlamini urged government, parents and communities to intensify prevention efforts.
These include confronting harmful gender norms, improving reporting mechanisms and ensuring that comprehensive sexual education and child protection programmes reach all communities, particularly rural areas.
