Pretoria – The Department of Social Development has proposed amendments to the Children’s Act (Act 38 of 2005) in order to allow social workers employed by government to process child adoption applications as opposed to it being done only by adoption agencies.
The review of the child adoption process came after two cases in which the adoptive parents applied to the courts for the rescission of adoption orders.
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini said whilst the rescission of adoption orders is legally provided for, it must be acknowledged that the instability created by this process is not good for the wellbeing of the adopted children.
“The Children’s Acts enjoins us always to do what is in the best interest of the child.
“It is obviously highly unfortunate when adoptive parents entrusted with the wellbeing of children request a court of law to set aside an adoption order that was meant to be for life after spending only a few years with the children,” Minister Dlamini said.
She said children who are placed in the adoption system go through difficult times as orphans and vulnerable children.
“For them to be uprooted again can have a detrimental effect on their psychological wellbeing.
“We urge South Africans who want to adopt children to carefully consider their decision before approaching a court,” Minister Dlamini said.
Department spokesperson Lumka Oliphant said workers employed by the department work directly with communities, families as well as the children.
Oliphant said the social workers must play a role in the adoption process to reduce the risk of failed adoptions because they have an intimate understanding of the circumstances of the children they work with.
“Since 2003, 23 882 South African children have been adopted. Eighty-eight percent of these have been adopted by South Africans, whilst the rest were inter-country adoptions,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
