South Africa has some of the most progressive children s legislation in the world.
The Amendment Bill before Parliament strengthens protective measures for children even further and aims to close gaps in the child protection system.
This is a summary of the additional controls being introduced.
Some of the amendments concern terminologies, to align the original Act with current family and child law practice, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Some of the changes are more significant.
Unmarried fathers
The Bill makes further provision for the rights of unmarried fathers.
Originally, an unmarried father enjoyed full parental responsibilities and rights if he was living with the mother at the time of the birth in a permanent life partnership or consented to be identified as the child s father, contributed to the child s upbringing for a reasonable period, and contributed to child maintenance expenses for a reasonable period.