Pretoria – Home Affairs Deputy Minister Fatima Chohan says measures have been put in place to curb child trafficking.
Speaking in Johannesburg on Monday, Deputy Minister Chohan said child trafficking has become an increasing problem in Africa and the world.
As part of curbing child trafficking, Deputy Minister Chohan said parents travelling with a child must produce an unabridged birth certificate of the child reflecting the particulars of both parents.
“In the case of one parent travelling with a child, in addition to him or her producing an unabridged birth certificate, a consenting affidavit from the other parent has to be produced,” she said.
The Deputy Minister explained that when a person travels with a child, who is not his or her biological child, a copy of the child’s unabridged birth certificate, a consenting affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child, copies of the IDs or passports of the parents or legal guardian of the child, and the contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child have to be produced.
Deputy Minister Chohan used the occasion to remind parents to register their new born babies within 30-days of birth.
“Early birth registration is critical for our government to protect the integrity of our Population Register.
“For this purpose, health facilities across the country have been provided with the facilities to provide a birth registration service at the place of birth,” the Deputy Minister said.
Once the child’s birth has been registered, an abridged birth certificate is issued free of charge, usually a day or so after the registration application has been submitted.
The Deputy Minister warned that no late birth registration will be allowed after December 2015. – SAnews.gov.za
