Police in Limpopo have vowed to investigate every case of teenage pregnancy in the province. This follows the arrest of a 28-year-old man after a 13-year-old girl gave birth on Christmas Day at the Seshego Hospital.

The man is alleged to have impregnated the teenager.

31 teenagers gave birth in Limpopo on the same day.

Provincial Police Commissioner Thembi Hadebe has issued a stern warning to perpetrators. “We are picking up on this trend that on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, you find young teenage girls who are pregnant and when you follow up these girls are impregnated by elders who are over age. We want to put a stop to that.”

“This case is setting an example and I must promise all those who run for young girls and taking advantage of them, that we will not rest until we find them and arrest them. So I’m sending a message to every perpetrator or anyone who’s involved with a young girl that that is a crime in South Africa,” Hadebe explains.

VIDEO | 28-year-old man arrested on charge of statutory rape in Limpopo:

The Commissioner says they are investigating circumstances around the girl’s case of statutory rape.

“When we interviewed the girl, she indicated that the person who impregnated her was working in one of the local restaurants within Polokwane and that’s when our FCF (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units) went and impounded the man.”

“ I would like to send a message to women who leave their children, though we understand the need to go and look for better opportunities to feed their families, but at the same time they should at least keep taps of their young girls,” Hadebe adds .– Additional reporting by Vutivi Maluleke.