If you want to foster a child that needs care and protection, you must first obtain approval from the Department of Social Development or a recognized child protection organization.
Foster care refers to the temporary placement of a kid who requires care and protection. The child is placed in the care of a suitable individual who is not the child’s parent or guardian.
Who is eligible to be a foster child?
The child must be under the age of 18 and/or have been abandoned or orphaned and be without any evident means of support, as well as exhibit behavior that the parent or caregiver cannot control.
be begging for a living or living on the streets
be addicted to a substance that causes dependence and have no support to seek treatment for such addiction
Having been exploited or are at risk of being exploited
be jeopardized if returned to the hands of a parent, guardian, or caregiver
be neglected physically or mentally, maltreated, abused, or humiliated by a parent, a caregiver, a person with parental obligations and rights, a family member, or a person in charge of the kid
Who is eligible to be a foster parent?
To be a foster parent, you must be at least 18 years old.
appropriate and proper
willing and capable of caring for the child
capable of providing a conducive atmosphere for the child’s growth and development
You can only foster a child for the length of time specified in the court order. After the specified duration of the court order has expired, the presiding officer may, after examining the social worker’s proposal, extend the period of the court order.
What you must do
To foster a child, contact your local Department of Social Development office or an accredited child protection organization.
A social worker will be assigned to you and will undertake an investigation.
The child and you will be evaluated by the social worker.
Please submit the following:
an affidavit declaring that the child has been abandoned (if applicable)
parents’ death certificates (if applicable)
The child’s birth certificate If your child does not have a birth certificate, the social worker will assist you in obtaining one.
your proof of identity
The biological parents must be included in the decision-making process.
If you don’t know where your biological parents are, the social worker will help you place an ad in the newspaper for one month asking them to come forward.
The process will continue if the biological parents do not come forward.
The youngster must be included throughout the process.
The social worker will produce a report and make recommendations to the Children’s Court.
The presiding officer of the court may find the child in need of care and protection based on the social worker’s report.
The presiding officer will issue a court order authorizing the child’s placement with the foster parent. The foster parent’s name, the foster child’s name, and the period of the foster placement will be listed in the court order.
Please keep in mind that once the court order is granted, you can apply for a foster kid grant at your nearest South African Security Agency office. Fees at public schools and healthcare facilities may also be waived for the child. To exempt the child from paying school fees, fill out the exemption form available from the school and send a letter of reference from the social worker to the school.
How much time does it take?
It varies depending on the circumstances.
What is the price?
The service is completely free.
Forms to fill out
All forms can be obtained at your local Department of Social Development office.
Whom should I contact?
Contact information for the provincial offices of the Department of Social Development
What does a foster parent earn in South Africa?
R1 070
What kind of financial assistance is available to foster parents? The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pays the foster parent a child foster care grant of R1 070 per court order (from 1 April 2022). This award is available till the child turns 18 years old.
In South Africa, how long does foster care last?
Placement duration
Section 159 (1)(a) of the Act states that a foster care order issued by the children’s court expires two (2) years after it was issued. It may, however, be prolonged by the court for a maximum of two (2) years at a time.
How many children are in South African foster care?
According to estimates, there are approximately 21,000 children living in 355 licensed Child and Youth Care Centres in South Africa, with an additional 2,000 living in 115 unregistered ones (although the total number may be as high as 28,000).
