Moral decay cause for foetus dumping- ADAPT

Non-profit organisation Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training (Adapt) has expressed concern at the recent discovery of two foetuses on 13th Avenue in Alexandra.

The discoveries were exposed in this paper’s Two foetuses are found in one day on 3 April.

Adapt’s Irene Khumalo, Thapelo Rahlogo and Seipati Mogorosi said the discoveries were concerning. They said others have been recovered in the past by cleaning crews in the Jukskei River and other places. Khumalo said the issue is symptomatic of social decay in society deriving from loss of social, moral and family values, family unity and respect. “They result from a lack of social support systems like in the past when those in distress received solace and aid from within the family, neighbours and society in general. Also, poverty is a contributing factor for those without resources to care for babies.”

She urged people not to judge those who aborted quickly without knowledge of the causes. “Besides poverty, some women get pregnant from rape and unplanned pregnancies from ‘sugar daddies’. This results in feelings of anger, shame and fear of self and family betrayal and also fear of rejection leading them to risk losing their lives through cheap backyard abortions rather than at clinics to avoid exposure.”

Khumalo said they also opted for illegal abortions as they have no assurance for marriage or commitment for support of the baby from their partners. She said ‘sugar daddies’ in particular only enticed teenage girls to sexual indebtedness for material gain taking advantage of their poverty.” She added that most men who engaged in such relationships disregarded the age of the girls knowing that children have become sexually active at a very young age.

Rahlogo added that sugar daddy relationships where not healthy and sustainable resulting in unplanned pregnancies. “Because of indebtedness, the poor girls have no power to negotiate for protective measures leaving them also vulnerable to other sexually transmitted diseases.” He attributed their [girls’] vulnerability to sexual exploitation to lack of family support and parents’ work commitments which kept them away from home most of the day. “This gives children uncontrolled freedom coupled with a TV culture, numerous taverns in the township and 24-hour street life that leaves them exposed to many negative influences.”

He added that in some homes, parents were also not helpful as they lacked parenting skills to impart moral guidance and awareness of self care and self love. “This forces children to rely on external, often wrong, advice resulting in pregnancies.

Details: Adapt 011 440 4047.

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