News24 | South Africa’s New Year babies: A celebration marred by rising teenage pregnancy

A Western Cape mother and her baby born on New Year's Day.

• Teenage mothers, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, were among those who had given birth on New Year’s Day.
• Provincial health departments reported that mothers as young as 15 had given birth.
• Department officials emphasised the need for education and support systems to address the challenges faced by young mothers and reduce teenage pregnancy rates.

As the world welcomed the New Year, hospitals across the country celebrated the arrival of hundreds of newborns.

However, the joyous occasion also highlighted a pressing issue: teenage pregnancies.

Health departments in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape reported on the first babies of 2026, with a significant number born to teenage mothers.

READ | 1 668 Christmas babies born, including 130 to teen moms

KwaZulu-Natal recorded 144 New Year’s Day births by midday, comprising 73 boys and 71 girls.

The first baby of the year, a boy weighing 1.8kg, was born at Queen Nandi Regional Hospital to a 31-year-old mother.

Other early arrivals included babies born at RK Khan Hospital, Nseleni Hospital, and Mahatma Gandhi Hospital.

However, the province reported that 21 of the mothers were teenagers, including two 16-year-olds who gave birth at Benedictine Hospital and Queen Nandi Regional Hospital.

Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane said that this meant that both girls were just 15 years old when they became pregnant, with the fathers aged 21.

“What is also concerning is the fact that these girls were just 15 years old when they fell pregnant, which is absolutely shocking and concerning, because at that age, they are nowhere near ready to be mothers,” Simelane said.

Other teenage mothers included one 17-year-old, four 18-year-olds, and two 19-year-olds.

“These statistics are cause for deep concern, and highlight the ongoing need for education, guidance, and access to reproductive healthcare for teenagers,” Simelane said.

In the Eastern Cape, Social Development MEC Bukiwe Fanta celebrated the birth of 102 babies by 15:00 on 1 January.

Among them, 23 were born to teenage mothers aged 15 to 19 years old.

Fanta expressed concern over the high rate of teenage pregnancies in the province, emphasising the need for comprehensive support and education.

“While we celebrate the joy of new life, we must also acknowledge the challenges that come with it, especially for young mothers.

Fanta said:

The department pledged to implement programmes that educate and empower young people about reproductive health and responsible parenting.

“We must equip our youth with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed choices. By doing so, we can help reduce the rates of teenage pregnancies and ensure that young mothers have access to the support they need,” Fanta added.

The Western Cape welcomed 28 New Year’s Day babies, including 17 boys and 11 girls.

The first baby of the year, a boy weighing 3.8kg, was born at Mowbray Maternity Hospital at exactly midnight to mother Geneva Claasen.

Other early arrivals included a baby boy born at Paarl Hospital at 00:03 and a baby girl born at Stellenbosch Hospital at 01:38.

READ | Teen pregnancies in the spotlight again as KZN counts Christmas babies

The Free State celebrated the arrival of the New Year with the birth of 44 babies across public health facilities by 15:00.

Acting health spokesperson Pogisho Sehularo said the most recent birth reported occurred at 12:50 at Diamond District Hospital.

Bongani Regional Hospital emerged as the busiest facility, reporting seven births, the highest in the province so far.