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NGOs have slammed Helen Zille for awarding bursaries to teenage girls who did not fall pregnant while at school.
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has awarded bursaries to teenage girls who had not fallen pregnant while at school but NGOs have slammed the initiative, a report has said.
According to the Cape Times, 14 girls enrolled in tertiary institutions received the bursaries worth R10 000 each as part of the Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Project.
The youngsters were reportedly chosen during 2010 using criteria established by the Human Rights Support Directorate in Zille’s office.
The Cape Times reported that when handing over the bursaries, Zille had said the girls were role models for their exemplary behaviour and good academic performance.
“The best thing government could do for these learners is give them opportunities. Government is always looking after people who are in conflict with the law. Here, we have girls who are doing what is right and deserve a chance in life,” Zille was quoted as saying.
She said the message her office was sending to the girls was that they should not fall pregnant before they had received an education. “This is crucial for your own life as well as your child’s. There is also a chance of you trapping yourself and your child in poverty.
“If girls are empowered with an education, they won’t have to depend on abusive men, they could make sensible choices and raise children properly and give them a serious chance in life,” said Zille.
But Molo Songololo director Patric Solomons said he was concerned about the awards because the responsibility was placed on teenage girls when the issues in their communities and homes were much larger, the Cape Times reported.
“They are confronted with a whole lot of social pressures. This can further marginalise girls and put extra pressure on them,” he said.
He said Zille should launch a programme targeting older men who exploited teenage girls for sex.
Childline’s Wynberg area manager, Cheryl Morilly, said Zille’s award didn’t address why teenage girls became pregnant.
“What we found in schools was that (among pupils) there seemed to be a lack of respect for each other, even for teachers. These are the things that need to be addressed, along with sexual harassment of girls (at school),” Morilly told the Cape Times. - IOL
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Candice, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
Surely any initiative that prevents young girls being trapped in a cycle of poverty and dependency is to be applauded
Roman Soiiko, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
Has anyone actually taken note of the amount of the bursary? R10 000...please, that is pathetic.
Anonymous, wrote
I have heard that governments in Africa buy votes just by giving handouts like food. Somtimes this is enough to get blind loyalty from the electorate, irrespective of the policies of the govt Well done by Denjab for selling his blind loyalty for the price of a degree Lucky for us all he didn't get his degree sponsored by Osama bin Laden. Now, how about judging political parties on their policies ?
sando, wrote
This women is really losing it, this racist must be stop of using the poor as subjects for scoring cheap political points. LOW LIFE WOMEN,by degrading people like this! Deal with the causes and fundamentals of the issues not the symtoms your bloody buffoon. Then again she does not understand the real issues of the people of SA.
Anonymous, wrote
Only GOOD girls get caught, thinking just once, it won't happen to them. The clever ones take precautions and they end up with an education.
CMA, wrote
@tudspooh, wrote
Right On Zille - you have the right idea - education will empower them - without the stress mentally and physically of having kids they can themselves GROW. Carry on th egood work and ignore those so called men out there - Govt should have thought of this ages ago instead of paying for babies born - pay for celibacy in teenagers
The Gecko, wrote
@Anonymous 12:30pm - Although I'm not all that rich, you're right, I don't know what it feels like to grow up in abject poverty. No one should grow up like that, which is why I would support any project that would prevent more babies being born to mothers who have no hope of ever caring for them, or providing them with anything other than abject poverty. Yes, some girls do bounce back from teenage pregnancies and achieve much, and I hope their success is their reward. But far more girls get pregnant in order to receive child grants, and end up perpetuating the cycle of poverty. It is this cycle that Zille is trying to slow down, or at least offer some girls a opportunity to get out of. She is not judging or punishing teen mothers. She is merely rewarding responsible girls. There is a subtle, but very real difference...
Anonymous, wrote
Well done Mrs Zille, reward is the answer. At least you try! The more the government support unwanted pregnancies,the more the teenagers think it is rewarding to fall pregnant for the grant. Those poor babies. This Country can learn from Mrs Zille. Well done to those girls.
East Coaster, wrote
@Denjab: Is it your deliberate intention to stir or are you using this platform to score cheap political points - just plain pathetic - speaks volumes about that PHD.
Anonymous, wrote
You can clearly distinguish a white comment from an AfricanIndianColoured ones. Whites, rich as they are , dont know how it fells like to be a black kid growing up in abject poverty.Does this mean that girls who fell preg while @ school are doomed. No! infact , a mistake of their pragnancy open their eyes and some come back to achieve good results at universities. So, Mrs ambitious Zille, stop your stupi and myopic judgement on teen mothers. they can have equal potential as their counterparts if given necessary support, recognition and chance.
Nationalist, wrote
The problem in SA are people who can't say thank you, Zille is doing something for those girls we should congratulate her. JZ is doing the same by taking poor kids to school thru his JZ Foundation, we need to separate politics from helping community. I know millions of people who are doing more than the two people I mentioned above but we fail to right about them. All politicians irrespective of party are corrupt and selfish, if they were inn parliament for us they were not going earn this much. I am sorry but I have been exposed to all major political parties leadership either a councillor or a premier they all become instant celebrities.
Frank Hartry, wrote
Flash-- We know about the ANC politicians that are looting the state coffers. I have written about them on many occasions. I have also written about the identified DA member of parliment who allegedly pocketed R275,000 of taxpayers money in another travelgate scam. This was stated by Patricia De Lille when, during her last speech in parliment in September 2010 she exposed the alleged scam. De Lille has never retracted her allegation and the DA has not taken ant decisive action against the DA MP. The R275,000 will invariably be small stff to you Flash but where does it all end?
Happy, wrote
@Denjab good for you and it makes me happy I myself was UDF now ANC and I feel that like Robert M the ANC is destroying what the created its time now for you and while you eyes and see the truth Use your PHD for the good and Speke the truth encourage our people to reward competence leading to results. When the ANC ruled WC my man it was fast rolling down hill we would have been where the northern cities is now. I put my struggle pride in my pocket and did the right thing by supporting the western cape gov based on what I saw and experienced. Maybe you need to go and a doctorate maybe only then will you be able to figure things out. But please if you want to live a dream I suggest keep your utterances to yourself and maybe then we can become a world class Country.
kenny, wrote
No matter what Helen does there will always be a doos to criticise her.at least our tax money is being used for some good, and not as a grant for all the school girls who get pregnant just to get the grant.What about the billions being mismanaged and stolen by this corrupt regime??
Outlaw Pete, wrote
Desmond and some other people on the forum can sometime argue so stupidly, making things personal and being completely irrasional. Desmond, which political party has proven to be corrupt almost on every level. Which political party has proven NOT to deliver. Which political party's followers are following it in spite of poor delivery and corruption. Look how you argue. You call Hellen Madam. You do that because you have NO argument and you sound like a kid with a tantrum calling people names. Make a proper argument and stop representing your party is such stupid immature way. That is the problem in this country, the ruling party supporters just cannot argue or debate rationally. I am black and very proud of it. DA is NOT perfect, not at all, but don't make like the ANC is. Im sorry to say, let me be just like you... YOU ARE SUCH A STUPID STUPID RACIST! Get a life my friend!
Denjab, wrote
Talk about role reversal. I find it gratifying that a previously untouchable section of the now-rainbow nation has been reduced to a bunch of whiners and ranters. I had given up on ever seeing such a day. Thanks to the ANC, I received opportunities to study up to PHD and I have a posh Job. I can take an occassional minute to amuse myself by reading all the media sponsored diatribe of complaints about the ANC government, the, the blacks, etc. To all my fellow black brothers and sisters, I say lets take the opportunities to improve our lives. For those that have not received the blessings, don't dispair. Work hard and bestow your trust on the ANC. it shall deliver. I am a shining example of the ANC delivering on its promise.
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