As the scourge of teenage pregnancy continues to grow in the Western Cape and across the country the teen-mom organisation Intyatyambo Yesizwe is working tirelessly to help the young mothers build a brighter future for themselves and their children.
Established in 2019, it works with teenage mothers, aged 13 to 22 by equipping them with essential life skills, confidence building and support so they can thrive independently and raise happy and healthy children, while trying to reverse a very real adolescent trend that is on the rise according to the City of Cape Town data.
The City said a total of 1 230 teen mothers accessed its facilities last year, an increase of 1,2% from 2024.
“This increase in teenage pregnancies forms part of a trend that has been observed over the past few years,” explained Mayco member for community services and health Francine Higham recently. “These pregnancies can be at higher risk for medical complications and have a significant socioeconomic impact for both the mothers and their families. City Health facilities offer adolescent- and youth-friendly services to encourage teenagers who are sexually active to access contraceptive services.”
“There are several contraceptive choices available at all clinics,” she said, “and clients of all ages can ask about and discuss their options with a healthcare professional.”
Among other services, the organisation offers stress management and emotional support, career guidance, life-skills training as well as telephone and in-person counselling to the young mothers.
Teen mom clubs
Intyatyambo Yesizwe works and conducts sessions in various communities, including Khayelitsha, Philippi, Delft, Mfuleni and Mitchells Plain and recently started working in Gqeberha.
Ntombesizwe Basso, founder of the organisation, said many young girls continued to suffer at home and in society whenever they fell pregnant. She said they are often ridiculed by their own parents and relatives, which breaks them emotionally and mentally. Most of these young mothers often find themselves between a rock and a hard place as they try to rebuild their lives, Basso said.
In an interview with City Vision she said she couldn’t just fold her arms and watch as many young people fell pregnant, in some instances with no support or means to raise their newborns.
As a graduate in psychologist Social Sciences with Majors in Psychology and Communication and a volunteer counsellor at Families South Africa (Famsa) Basso witnessed young mothers sitting with their children on street corners and pavements in her immediate communities of Mandalay, Khwezi and Bongweni. She decided to take action while visiting a clinic in Mitchells Plain as a Famsa volunteer. During the visit Basso saw teen moms who had “lost hope” and requested to talk to them, she explained.
Giving young mother purpose in life
While she had a session with the group she realised most of them were too embarrassed and shy to speak. “I explained my purpose to them, and as I got deeper into their stories I realised some of them had no family support.”
Basso learned this trend prevailed on visiting various clinics around Cape Town, which induced her to found an organisation geared towards arresting the trend, but also to give the necessary support wherever it was needed. She established various clubs in different communities.
To date, the organisation has seven Intyatyambo Teen Mom clubs in the Western Cape and three in Gqeberha.
The clubs offer teen mothers an opportunity to speak openly about their challenges and a chance to rebuild their lives.
Lack of funding and support
Without any financial support Basso uses her own money to fund the programme. She also relies heavily on various community facilities.
“We use resources around us to equip these young moms. I identified the library as a safe space for them. It has resources and there they have access to books. So we liaised with the libraries. They also have internet facilities and other useful resources. We invited people, including councillors, to motivate these young women. We teach them to be independent and not be ashamed of their background. We also focus on mental health and invited clinicians to work with them. The vision is to help ensure their life chances and spirits do not differ from those of their contemporaries. We envision a future for them and want them to continue dreaming.”
She pointed out that various factors, including poverty, are factors in most of the pregnancy cases. The youngest child Basso worked with was 12 years old. “These are rape cases and often we let the law take is course.” She encouraged parents to be open with their children. “We as parents must be friends with our children. We must be parents who talk freely with them. We must educate them about sex and the risks associated with it.”
Saving lives and giving confidence
Chuma Makhala (20), a young mom from Mfuleni, joined Intyatyambo Yesizwe when she was five-months pregnant and gave birth on Thursday 26 March. She praised the organisation for the crucial role it played. She initially wanted to abort the foetus. However, numerous sessions with the organisation changed her mind. “I realised there were other girls with more serious problems than mine.”
Makhala said the organisation boosted her confidence for she had people to turn to. “I was emotionally drained, my relationship with my mother was non-existent. I wanted to abort, but the organisation encouraged me to keep the child. I was also prepared to leave my baby at the hospital.”
Thanks to the support she received from Intyatyambo Yesizwe today she is a happy mother building a strong bond with her newborn child.
Milisa Masiso (23), another young mother and an alumna of the organisation, praised Teen Moms for changing her life. She is one who often motivates the young mothers. She said she faced many challenges, including lack of support from those from whom she needed it most. Things began to change after Masiso joined the organisation.
“Besides the sense of belonging from being part of the group and other nice packs that comes with it the main foucs is to promo is to be able to promote personal growth and independence as well as empower for the young mothers to be able to provide for themselves as well as their little ones through employment of furtherirng their studies or starting their own businesses.”
Intyatyambo Yesizwe invites teen mothers to its weekly meeting at Mfuleni Library every Thursday between 13:30 and 15:00
On Sunday 19 April it will host a Braai Day at Zandvlei Recreational Park, in Muizenberg.
For more information, or to help, contact Basso on 063 007 4609 or email her at ntombile.basso@gmail.com
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