ADOPTION IN SOUTH AFRICA

If you are unable to give birth to a child or you wish to add another child to your family, adoption is a legal way in which a single adult or couple can make this happen.
If egg donation or surrogacy is not options for you, for whatever reason, adoption makes a child yours as though it were born of you.

Adoption is the ultimate act of love, providing a permanent or stable family life for a child or children who would otherwise be deprived of one.

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.”
Richard Bach

The Adoption Process

The adoption process In South Africa is unfortunately a long, complex and emotionally challenging road. There are two avenues to adoption, either through approved NGOs such as Child Welfare, or through social workers in private practice.

There is also no “one road” to follow. Whilst the steps below provide the “formal process” as a guideline, there are numerous suggestions that one MUST BE PROACTIVE in trying to find a baby.

Visit the Personal Adoption Stories of this site for some amazing acts or courage and determination to parenthood through adoption.

Visit the Adoption Contacts and Links page to assist you in your search.

Step 1: Apply to a Social worker

Apply to a social worker or an adoption agency. We have numerous contacts on our Adoption Contacts and Links page.

The social worker will conduct various assessments to ascertain your suitability as adoptive parents. This will include assessing your reputation, your and your partner’s age, medicals, psychological evaluations and tests, one on one and couple sessions and group sessions, financial assessment to support and educate the child. It’s important that this evaluation has been completed so that when and if a baby is suddenly available (which happens in the world of adoption) you are “ready to be considered.”

A social worker will ensure that your adoption is legal and this is vital for your future with the child.

Step 2: When a child is available for adoption

When the social worker, or you yourself, finds a child that needs adoptive parents, the social worker will apply to the applicable Children's Court for a private hearing. The social worker’s report will detail all of the assessments completed in Step 1, which should confirm that you are suitable adoptive parents. The best interests of the child will govern the Courts decision. If the Commissioner is satisfied, an adoption order will be issued however the adoption order might only be issued months after you first apply, so be prepared for a long process.

I Will Be A Wonderful Mother - Author Unknown

There are women who become mothers without effort, without thought,
without patience or loss, and though they are good mothers and love their children, I know that I will be better.

I will be better not because of genetics or money or because I have read more books, but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.

I have longed and waited. I have cried and prayed. I have endured and planned over and over again. Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.

I will notice everything about my child. I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore, and discover. I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life.

I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold, and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream. My dream will be crying for me.

I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child. Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love.

I will be a better mother for all that I have endured.

Yes, I will be a wonderful mother.