Home Affairs Minister Dr Siyabonga Cwele spreads Christmas cheers with some mothers of new born babies in Ethekwini
The Minister of Home Affairs Dr Siyabonga Cwele handed over birth certificates to some of the mothers who gave birth on Christmas Day at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Umlazi and RK Khan in Chatsworth.
The Minister was accompanied by KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, eThekwini Mayor Cllr Zandile Gumede and government officials. The three leaders also gifted the mothers of the new born babies with hampers which included baby baths, nappies and blankets.
Minister Cwele encouraged parents of new born babies to register their children within 30 days of birth.
“We congratulate the parents who welcomed their children to the world today. These precious gifts should be registered soon afterbirth because identity documents are enabling documents.
Children who have identification documents will be able to benefit from other government services such as access to education and who qualify, access to school feeding schemes and social grants,” said Minister Cwele.
Minister Cwele encouraged expectant parents to bring their identity documents when visiting hospitals to deliver their babies to expedite the registration of the new born babies.
“About 65% of new born babies get registered before their parents leave the hospital. We need to ensure that all babies are registered while their mothers are still in hospital,” he said.
Minister Cwele called on fathers to support their partners when they give birth and to bring their identity documents to ensure that the children are registered with both parents’ details.
MEC Dhlomo said, at 09:00 this morning, 45 babies were born in the province’s hospitals. He said 24 of these babies were boys and 21 were girls. One mother delivered twins.
“The youngest mother who gave birth today is 16 years old. We have seen that a lot of child mortalities at birth are amongst young mothers. This is as a result of a combination of issues which includes the young mothers hiding their pregnancy until very late. We urge young people who chose to engage in sex to visit their clinics for advice on planned parenthood,” said MEC Dhlomo.
The eThekwini Municipality has partnered with the Department of Home Affairs to pay for community workers to do awareness campaign for early registration and to help register the children of parents who are illiterate.
She said the partnership helps the City to collect reliable statistics on child births which helps the City with its planning activities.
Enquiries:
Siya Qoza (spokesperson for the Minister of Home Affairs)
Cell: 082 898 1657
David Hlabane (media manager for the Department of Home Affairs)
Cell: 071 342 4284
