GCC to debate legalisation of abortion
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday December 10, 2015 15:00
The councillor’s contention is that women resort to unsafe abortion due to various reasons including family planning failure, being not financial ready for the pregnancy and being deserted by partners amongst others.
In an interview yesterday Kgosietsile said a Ministry of Health report showed that between 2007 and 2011, 53.2 percent of maternal deaths were caused by abortion.
“Some women become pregnant as a result of abuse for example rape, defilement, pressure from family, peers and partners. Others terminate pregnancy because of fear of loss of opportunities like education and employment,” he said.
The councillor said women are denied rights and lack of information on available services for abortion. He added that the criminalisation of abortion under existing laws was outdated and needed either review or scrapping out.
The Marulamantsi councillor plans to lobby other councillors to support his motion so that it can be taken to the minister of Local Government and Rural Development.