South African families would rather provide orphans with foster care than adopt them, a study has found.  

The SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) study found that adoptions were not a frequent choice among families.  

“A lot of orphans are looked after by their extended families or family friends in a private, informal arrangement known as kinship foster care,” the SAIRR said in a statement.

“This type of arrangement is widely practised in South Africa, even though it is not ordered or regulated by any statute or legal body.” 

It said Statistics SA estimated that 1.4 million children lived in such households.

The study found the number of orphans increased by 29 percent between 2005 and 2009, from just over four million children to 5.2 million.

In the same period adoptions decreased by 52% and foster care grants increased by 72%.

The statistics were based on data from the education department.

“Formal foster care comes with a financial incentive. The foster care grant is currently R770 a month. Many people opt to foster a child rather than adopt one.” 

Adoption requires the family to be able to provide for the child’s needs, both financially and otherwise.

“No financial assistance is provided by the government. In addition, the adoption process is a lengthy and demanding one, which often acts as a deterrent to prospective parents.” 

SAIRR researcher Lerato Moloi said this was not good news for the increasing number of orphans in the country.

“The Actuarial Society of SA estimates that by 2015, there will be more than 5.5 million orphans. Some 32% of these will be maternal, 56% paternal, and 12% double orphans.”

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Thu Jun 20 05:20:03 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 9, 2012

1andonlybucs

What?????
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Jul 10, 2012

BrothaX

Very disturbing stats but what is more disturbing is to see some Africans flashing their wealth (which is more like flashing high debts) whereas in thier own familities there are destitute kids that goes to bed with empty stomachs. I am talking about a people who would prefer buying a R800.00 bottle of Whiskey than to buy a pair or 2 of school shoes and a few winter items. Most African folks do not have any affection for their kind.
Where there is no vision, the people perish.
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Jul 10, 2012

TheRealHumanIsBlack

We had perfect system that never destroyed the earth before the white man came here, hence now we don't know what to do . nxa
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Jul 11, 2012

Shredder

Our government and education laws are winking at sin of kids than weeping at it. These stats are of no surprise, when grade 7 kids get pregnant what do you expect?
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