Disquiet over move to legalise abortion

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Friday November 30, 2007 00:00

The MP made the plea in Parliament where it was rejected by the government through cabinet minister Phandu Skelemani.

Reverend Mpho Moruakgomo said abortion is a contradictory practice to Setswana culture and Christianity. In a telephone interview he said he detests abortion. 'It is unacceptable and has no place in our society.' He said legalising abortion will not solve the problem of back-street abortions.

Margaret Bahule said legalising abortion is just an excuse for women to be allowed to get away with murder. 'Abortion should not be legalised because people will just engage in unprotected sex knowing that they will simply walk into a clinic and abort. Every woman must know that once you engage in unprotected sexual intercourse, there is likelihood of conception,' she stated. She warned that if abortion is legalised, there would definitely be a rise in the spread of HIV/AIDS. Another woman, who preferred not to be mentioned by name, said that she is against abortion because people will simply abuse it and there will be an increase in the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Middle-aged Tshiamo Ndebele said people would abuse abortion if it is legalised.

'Anybody, even our girlfriends would just decide to go for it when there are no problems,' he warned. He said that like prostitution, legalising abortion would increase the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Women's rights activist Ntombi Setshwaelo stated that women who want to abort will do it whether it is illegal or not. She said that women who have money go to South Africa where they get the services easily and expressed sympathy for the poor. She called on government to harmonise laws to legalise abortion. She added that back-street abortion is dangerous and many people have died as a result of it. She admitted that Setswana culture and Christianity are against abortion. She called for the empowerment and education of women so that they can make informed decisions.