Adoption system under threat by amendment
Activist and researcher Dee Blackie said the amendment will have a major effect on the adoptions system and the children.
The child protection civil society sector is concerned about the proposed amendments to the Children’s Act.
The amendments propose to make it illegal for anyone to receive fees for professional services rendered.
According to the National Adoption Coalition of South Africa, it states that “the bill proposes that accredited child protection organisations, adoption services, social workers, lawyers, psychologist and all other professionals will no longer be able to charge for any expert or specialist services rendered to adoptive families, not even for reimbursement of travelling expenses, medical care and counselling”.
Activist and researcher Dee Blackie said the amendment will have a major effect on the adoption system and the children.
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“There will be massive negative implications on adoptions and adoptable children. Homes are already full as it is. If this law is to come to pass, that could change a numbers of things. It could mean many children will stay in homes and never find loving families,” said Blackie.
Adoptive mother, journalist and activist Robyn Vorster shared her concerns following her journey down the adoption road.
“All the people who are involved in the adoption process are important. They play a crucial role that ensures both the child and the adoptive parents receive the right guidance throughout the process. If that process is cut out, what is going to happen to the children? How is the system going to ensure all adoptions are done correctly?” said Vorster.
Katinka Pieterse, chairperson of the National Adoption Coalition of South Africa, said the Department of Social Development has not conducted an in-depth consultation with the child protection sector.
The department argued that the prescribed professional fees and cost recovery which are legally allowed for and regulated by government leads to fraud and potential trafficking.
Another is that the amendment is aimed at making adoptions accessible to allow people who want children but cannot afford the fees to adopt.
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“Adoption accredited child protection organisations charge nominal professional prescribed fees for adoption services. The income derived from these fees enables designated child protection organisations (DCPOs) to employ experienced social workers since no DCPOs receive government subsidies for the rendering of child protection and adoption services.
“There is no substantive evidence that adoption is as expensive as claimed by the department. These professional fees are regulated by government, so if there are alleged offenders who charge more, as claimed by the department, then the department needs to take action and shut down such offenders,” said Pieterse.
She said the adoption service is an area of speciality as provided for by the Social Service Professions Act, 1978.
She added that adoption numbers remain relatively low when compared to other forms of alternative care and the numbers show a consistent decline.
In the 2010/11 financial year there were 2 436 adoptions registered in South Africa, compared to the 1 186 registered during the 2017/18 financial year.
Commissioner Angie Makwetla from the Human Rights Commission (HRC) said promoting and protecting children’s rights are important.
“As HRC, our concern is the well-being of the child and if the amendment will violate any child’s right, then we will make sure we protect them,” said Makwetla.
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