1,5m children orphaned in SA

PRETORIA – The number of orphaned children in South Africa is estimated at 1.5 million, Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya said yesterday.

Although the country had done “incredibly well” to provide a safety net for the poor, which included giving a child support grant to 8.3 million children, more needed to be done, said Skweyiya in a speech. “However, South Africa is facing a challenge of increasing numbers of orphaned children, abandoned babies, worrying levels of abuse, neglect and exploitation of children.Most of these children need permanent homes,” he said.He said the department currently provided social support to 20 657 child-headed households, while 11 328 community caregivers were trained.Children being abandoned and neglected could be partly attributed to high levels of poverty, unemployment and unwanted teenage pregnancies.Foster care was a useful short-term intervention while encouraging families to adopt children was a permanent solution.”We therefore need families and individuals to come forward and provide children with permanent homes,” said Skweyiya.Nampa-Sapa”However, South Africa is facing a challenge of increasing numbers of orphaned children, abandoned babies, worrying levels of abuse, neglect and exploitation of children.Most of these children need permanent homes,” he said.He said the department currently provided social support to 20 657 child-headed households, while 11 328 community caregivers were trained.Children being abandoned and neglected could be partly attributed to high levels of poverty, unemployment and unwanted teenage pregnancies.Foster care was a useful short-term intervention while encouraging families to adopt children was a permanent solution.”We therefore need families and individuals to come forward and provide children with permanent homes,” said Skweyiya.Nampa-Sapa