NEWS: Children in need of safe, loving homes

While the number of orphans has increased by more than 30 percent in the past decade, the number of adoptions in South Africa is decreasing annually.

This means an increase in orphaned and vulnerable children without permanent and loving homes. Some reasons include the complexity of the adoption process, which is putting prospective parents off, the high cost involved in applying through a private adoption agency, and resistance from black communities where “stranger” adoption is not the cultural norm.

Katinka Pieterse from Abba Adoptions said estimates showed there were more than two million children who may benefit from adoption. This number reflected those at risk and who are already in the system.

Pieterse said:
- Of the 18.5 million children, 4.5 million lived with neither parent.
- 150 000 children live in 79 000 child-headed households.
- More than 13 000 live in residential facilities.
- About 10 000 live on the street.
- Around 600 000 children are in foster care.

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