Just over half of South Africans over 25 are married or living together in long-term relationships; 4 percent are divorced or separated, and 10 percent are widowed. Many young women get pregnant unexpectedly without being in a stable relationship. We spoke to some single moms to find out how they are coping.
HELEN CALITZ
PERSONAL ASSISTANT
I had an affair with a married man of which I am not proud. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. It was wrong in every sense.
BEING A SINGLE MOM
I was deeply shocked by my pregnancy. It scared me so much that I don’t even remember much of my pregnancy or the first few months of my daughter’s life. I feel so different now. I would not change being a mother for anything in the world. I was petrified, but when she came into my life, she changed me. I became a better person. You don’t see this when you’re scared and alone though. And by alone, I mean: I had my friends and family who were wonderfully supportive, but you’re still really actually alone as a parent.
BEING HONEST WITH MY DAUGHTER
The most difficult part was telling my daughter why there was
