Rustenburg — Churches must assist government to emphasise the importance of child grants to young women in their communities, says North West MEC for Social Development, Nikiwe Mangqo.

The MEC was speaking on Wednesday at the three-day Faith Based Organisation Summit held at Rustenburg Kloof.

MEC Mangqo appealed to churches to spread the message that child grants were not a means to earn an income but an intervention by the government to assist people who could not afford the basic necessities because of poverty.

"The money which the government gives to young mothers is not an incentive to make more babies so that they could then buy themselves nice clothes and fancy hairstyles.

"The money is meant to help the children, who are the real beneficiaries behind this policy," she said.

The MEC further emphasised that with the assistance of the churches, government could reverse the tide of teenage pregnancy and free the resources towards other areas where there was a bigger need.

"If our churches can instill in young people discipline and correct behaviour, I am confident that we would not have a situation where people fell pregnant when they are not ready or able to start families.

"I am also confident that after this conference here, our church leaders will assist government to communicate positively to change the lives of our young people," she said.

One of the church leaders, Otukile Mosimanegape of St Peters Church in Mafikeng told BuaNews that members of the community must work together in correcting the challenges faced by families.

"Our children engage in unprotected sex, drink alcohol and do things which really give our country a bad name.

"We must start at the beginning to act together in ensuring that problems facing our communities are addressed as quickly as possible," he said.

Mr Mosimanegape said children need to be taught good moral values at an early age to avoid them from becoming bad parents in the future.

"Family plays a huge role in the upbringing of children in society and we are saying children must be taught good manners at home, especially by our young women.

"They must be taught how to take care of themselves at an early age so that they can be a better citizen of this country," Mr Mosimanegape said.