SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMEMORATES WORLD ADOPTION DAY IN VRYBURG, NORTH WEST PROVINCE

• The Department of Social Development is commemorating World Adoption Day in Vryburg, North West Province, to raise awareness of adoption as a vital means of providing family care and support to children in need.
• Guided by the Constitution and the Children’s Act, the Department seeks to encourage adoption, both nationally and internationally, while prioritising the child’s best interests and upholding stringent legal processes.
• This year’s event features discussions with the community, resources for prospective adoptive parents, and personal stories that celebrate the power of adoption to transform children’s lives by offering them a stable, loving family environment.

The Department of Social Development is commemorating World Adoption Day today, 09 November, in Vryburg under the Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District in North West Province.

In South Africa, Section 28(1)(b) of the Constitution (Act No. 108 of 1996) enshrines the right of every child to family care, parental care, or appropriate alternative care if they are removed from family life. World Adoption Day, observed globally each year on 09 November, aims to raise awareness of these rights under the theme, “Child’s Right to Family: Adoption – The Best Option.”

Adoption in South Africa, whether national (within the country’s borders) or intercountry (beyond South Africa’s borders), is governed by the Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005, as amended), which mandates that adoption can only proceed through a children’s court order after thorough consideration of all relevant information. This aligns with the Constitution and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), both of which prioritise the best interests of the child in adoption matters.

The Act also identifies registered social workers, accredited by the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP), as central to providing adoption services. The Department of Social Development acts as the registrar and central authority for both national and intercountry adoptions. Since 2018, the Department has recorded 5,566 children awaiting adoption on the national register and 738 on the intercountry adoption register. World Adoption Day provides an opportunity to increase public awareness, educate prospective adoptive parents and caregivers on the adoption process, and celebrate families who offer permanence and belonging to children in need of care.

“Adoption is an important element of our child protection system in South Africa, as it gives children in need of care a positive identity and a sense of belonging within their adoptive families. Today in South Africa, over 6000 vulnerable children in need of care are waiting for an adoptive family that nurtures, protects, and supports them to reach their full potential,” said Minister Tolashe.  

“On this World Adoption Day, please join us in making this happen. I would like to take this opportunity to urge all prospective adoptive parents to consider adoption as a positive legal way of giving vulnerable children the love, stability, and support they so much need in their lives. Our social workers are fully trained to walk with you every step of the way as to take this important step of making a difference in our children’s lives, one child at a time,” added Minister Tolashe.

The World Adoption Day outreach programme includes interactive sessions with local community members, educational discussions on the adoption process under South African law, information on available support services for adoptive families, and personal stories from families united through adoption.