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| South Africa minister tells schoolgirls to 'open books and close legs' | South Africa minister tells schoolgirls to 'open books and close legs' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Phophi Ramathuba has been criticised for the remarks | Phophi Ramathuba has been criticised for the remarks |
| A regional health minister has come under fire in South Africa for telling schoolgirls to "open your books and close your legs". | A regional health minister has come under fire in South Africa for telling schoolgirls to "open your books and close your legs". |
| Phophi Ramathuba made the comment during a visit to a secondary school in a bid to encourage abstinence and reduce teenage pregnancy rates. | Phophi Ramathuba made the comment during a visit to a secondary school in a bid to encourage abstinence and reduce teenage pregnancy rates. |
| Social media users criticised the remark and questioned why it was only directed at girls. | Social media users criticised the remark and questioned why it was only directed at girls. |
| Ms Ramathuba defended the message, which she said was aimed at boys too. | Ms Ramathuba defended the message, which she said was aimed at boys too. |
| The health minister for Limpopo province was visiting Gwenane secondary school in the township of Sekgakgapeng on Wednesday to mark the first day of the new academic year. | The health minister for Limpopo province was visiting Gwenane secondary school in the township of Sekgakgapeng on Wednesday to mark the first day of the new academic year. |
| "To the girl child I say: Open your books, and close your legs. Don't open your legs, open your books. Thank you very much," she told students. | "To the girl child I say: Open your books, and close your legs. Don't open your legs, open your books. Thank you very much," she told students. |
| She added that girls were being lured by older men using luxuries like expensive wigs and smart phones. | She added that girls were being lured by older men using luxuries like expensive wigs and smart phones. |
| The comments sparked criticism after a video of the speech was shared on social media. | The comments sparked criticism after a video of the speech was shared on social media. |
| "This is not an appropriate way to talk to kids about abuse, sex and consent", one social media user wrote. | "This is not an appropriate way to talk to kids about abuse, sex and consent", one social media user wrote. |
| Opposition politician Siviwe Gwarube called the remarks "deeply problematic". | Opposition politician Siviwe Gwarube called the remarks "deeply problematic". |
| "This was an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with these learners about consent... Instead you victim blame. Place undue pressure on girls", she said in a message on Twitter. | "This was an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with these learners about consent... Instead you victim blame. Place undue pressure on girls", she said in a message on Twitter. |
| Ms Ramathuba told South African news site TimesLIVE that her statement had been taken out of context, and was directed at boys too. | |
| "I told the boys to focus on their education and not sleep with girls," she said. | "I told the boys to focus on their education and not sleep with girls," she said. |
| She added that her constituents in Limpopo "appreciated the message". | She added that her constituents in Limpopo "appreciated the message". |
| "They were even saying that they were afraid to say these things and thanked me for calling a spade a spade," she said. | "They were even saying that they were afraid to say these things and thanked me for calling a spade a spade," she said. |
| Government statistics show that almost 33,400 girls under the age of 17 gave birth in South Africa in 2020. | Government statistics show that almost 33,400 girls under the age of 17 gave birth in South Africa in 2020. |
| Save the Children says a lack of access to comprehensive sex education as well as affordable and appropriate health services are key factors contributing to teen pregnancies in South Africa. | Save the Children says a lack of access to comprehensive sex education as well as affordable and appropriate health services are key factors contributing to teen pregnancies in South Africa. |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
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| In 2013 nearly 100,000 teenagers became pregnant in South Africa, reports Anne Soy | In 2013 nearly 100,000 teenagers became pregnant in South Africa, reports Anne Soy |