Adoption powers lie with Childrenâs Court Share The Childrenâs Court is not precluded from deciding on adoption, irrespective of whether or not the Department of Social Development issues a letter of recommendation regarding prospective parentsâ suitability to adopt children. This is according to a judgment by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. The matter related to two sets of prospective parents who approached the court after the department, for no reason, said it did not recommend the adoptions of the children in their cases. The desperate applicants in both cases said they had already formed a bond with the children, who were in desperate need of loving homes.