Poverty, Inequality and Teenage Parenthood in Welbedacht East

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In South Africa’s conversations about teenage pregnancy, the focus often settles on statistics and moral judgement. But in communities where unemployment, poverty and fragile household incomes shape daily life, the story is far more layered.

In a densely populated, impoverished community marked by socio-economic hardship and limited opportunity, an insightful study has turned attention to what teenage parenthood actually feels like on the ground: in schools, in homes and in the quiet negotiations between survival and expectation.

Cum laude graduate Ms Tsapelo Mchunu’s timely dissertation, ‘A Qualitative Study of Teenage Mothers and Fathers in Welbedacht East, Chatsworth, KwaZulu-Natal’, supervised by Professor Deevia Bhana, explores how young people experience pregnancy and parenting not as isolated events, but as part of a wider system shaped by gender norms, inequality and silence.

Mchunu asserts that “the supervision received throughout this process made the master’s journey smooth and highly efficient, with consistent academic guidance, constructive feedback, and exceptional support that strengthened both the clarity and depth of my research from inception through to completion. This mentorship played a significant role in ensuring the successful and timely completion of the dissertation.”

Deeply influenced by both personal experiences and her professional role as an educator, Mchunu’s research was sparked by what she repeatedly saw in classrooms. “I witnessed many young girls fall pregnant and face stigma, school dropout and limited support, while boys often continued with their education unaffected. This imbalance made me question how gender and societal norms shape these experiences.”

Welbedacht East is not just a backdrop to the study - it is central to understanding it. An underprivileged area where families navigate daily economic strain, the community reflects how poverty intersects with silence around sexuality, uneven schooling experiences and deeply rooted gender expectations. Yet it is also a place of endurance, where young people continue to imagine futures within constrained circumstances.

One of the study’s most important interventions is its refusal to look only at teenage mothers, “Including both teenage mothers and fathers provides a more holistic understanding of teenage parenthood. My study showed that both are affected, but differently, due to gender norms,” said Mchunu.

Those differences are sharply drawn. Teenage mothers often described disrupted schooling, intense stigma and the sudden weight of caregiving. Teenage fathers, by contrast, were more likely to remain in school but carried pressure to provide financially, even while still dependent themselves.

She noted that the emotional toll was immediate and heavy. “Emotional challenges included shock, fear, anxiety and stress. Socially, young parents faced stigma, judgment, isolation and strained relationships. Educationally, many struggled with dropout, declining performance, and the constant tension of trying to parent while still being a learner.”

Findings revealed that their journeys into parenthood were rarely planned. Many spoke about limited knowledge of contraception, peer pressure and the absence of open conversations about sex at home.

What stood out was not only what happened, but what was not said: silence in families, judgement in healthcare spaces, and the strong influence of poverty and unstable relationships in shaping decisions.

Support systems made a decisive difference, though not always in consistent ways. Families, especially grandparents, often became the backbone of survival, offering childcare and emotional stability.

Schools, however, were frequently described as unsupportive environments where stigma replaced guidance. Communities, too, often reinforced shame rather than providing support, deepening isolation.

Yet the study is not only about difficulty. It is also about movement within constrained circumstances.

Some teenage mothers returned to school despite disruption. Some fathers stepped into caregiving roles more actively than expected. Some families reorganised themselves around the new reality, showing adaptability in difficult circumstances.

Gender expectations sit at the centre of these experiences. Mothers are expected to carry caregiving responsibilities, often at the cost of their education. Fathers are expected to provide financially, even when they are still learners. These expectations, the study shows, do not simply describe roles - they actively shape unequal life trajectories.

According to Mchunu, the implications are clear. Comprehensive Sexuality Education needs to be meaningfully implemented, not treated as a formality. Schools must become spaces of support rather than exclusion. Healthcare services must be non-judgemental and accessible. In addition, communities need sustained engagement to challenge harmful gender norms that continue to shape young people’s lives.

Mchunu’s study shifts the lens away from blame, showing that teenage pregnancy is shaped by inequality, silence, gendered expectation, and economic pressure.

Words: Rakshika Sibran

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini