6 July 2022

The ANC Parliamentary Caucus Study Group on Social Development welcomes adoption of the Children’s Amendment Bill [B18 – 2020] report by the Portfolio Committee after a protracted process of legislating the Bill which seeks to contribute towards a comprehensive legal solution as ordered by the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria, in the matter of Centre for Child Law v Minister of Social Development (Case No: 72513/2017) to deal with challenges relating to the provision and administration of foster care. The amendment bill process received a second extension granted by the North Gauteng High Court which ends in November 2022.

To expedite an already delayed process, the Portfolio Committee on Social Development resolved to focus on 12 clauses from the proposed 147 clauses which address the foster care problem while the remaining clauses will be processed through a Portfolio Committee Bill. 

We thank everyone who made inputs in the public hearings, of which 74% supported the bill. We will continue to work with different stakeholders in ensuring that we work together to improve the living conditions of children.  

We are committed to ensuring that we amend the Children’s Act to strengthen protective measures for children and to address critical gaps and challenges in the underlying child care and protection system.

ISSUED BY THE ANC STUDY GROUP ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

For enquiries:

Dikgang Stock ANC (MP) – 

Whip of Social Development

+27(0) 71 645 9014