Latest news with #Children'sCourt
The Citizen
12-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Opening hearts and homes: A guide to adopting in South Africa
Some parents-to-be can opt to adopt children, not because of pregnancy issues but because they are consciously extending a hand in providing love and care for children in need. Children have a right to protection against violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Reportedly, between April 2010 and March 2024, the Department of Social Development recorded 16 593 national adoptions within South Africa. The Department of Social Development (DSD) advises South Africans that they have alternative options when they cannot look after their children. Lumka Oliphant, spokesperson of the DSD explained, 'Adoption which is viewed as the most permanent placement option for children who are orphaned and vulnerable, remains under-utilised in South Africa and this leaves children for whom there is no immediate alternative care within their extended families, exceptionally vulnerable to the long-term effects of institutionalisation.' Also read:Giving children a sense of belonging through adoption Furthermore, 'Currently, South Africa has children who are orphaned due to various reasons like violent crime, gender-based violence, HIV/Aids and the Covid-19. On the other hand, some children are abandoned due to the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and unwanted pregnancy.' She concluded that although adoption is a person's or a family's choice, it is important to promote adoption services and recruit prospective adoptive parents within the country. Applying for national adoption Only South African citizens residing in South Africa can apply, and must want to adopt a South African child. 1. Go to any adoption agency in any province of your choice to apply. 2. The adoption agency will conduct a screening/ home study to check if you are fit and proper to adopt a child. 3. If the agency is satisfied with the results, they will put you on a Register of Adoptable Children and Adoptive Parents while they help you search for a child who is available for adoption. 4. If a child is available, they will call you to the offices to meet the child and ask you if you are interested in adopting the child. 5. If you agree, they will send your report to the Children's Court to finalise the adoption and issue an adoption order. 6. The Court report will be sent to the Department of Social Development so they can check if correct procedure was followed and to record both your and the child's details. Also read: Ways to teach your child to accept all families The duration of the process differs from one case to another. And the cost will depend on the agency used. Abba Specialist Adoption & Social Services (Abba) is a non-profit organisation founded in 1983. They are a designated child protection organisation with adoption accreditation for national and inter-country adoptions. They provide a range of direct services to abandoned, neglected, orphaned, and vulnerable children who appear to be in need of permanent alternative family care. On the matter of the duration of the adoption process, Abba indicates, 'The screening process is not only establishing whether a prospective adoptive parent is fit and proper but is also a preparation process to ensure that parents are ready for the challenges of adoption and equipped to deal with them. At Abba, this process normally takes between 4-6 months. 'The waiting period for a child is closely related to the profile of the child that parents have applied for. There are, for instance, more black children available for adoption than children of other races, which can increase the waiting time for a baby.' The DSD encourages citizens to use the opportunity to adopt, and make a lasting difference in children's lives. All forms are available at your nearest Department of Social Development offices. For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
12-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Child adoption journey unpacked
Some parents-to-be can opt to adopt children, not because of pregnancy issues but because they are consciously extending a hand in providing love and care for children in need. Children have a right to protection against violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Reportedly, between April 2010 and March 2024, the Department of Social Development recorded 16 593 national adoptions within South Africa. The Department of Social Development (DSD) advises South Africans that they have alternative options when they cannot look after their children. Lumka Oliphant, spokesperson of the DSD explained, 'Adoption which is viewed as the most permanent placement option for children who are orphaned and vulnerable, remains under-utilised in South Africa and this leaves children for whom there is no immediate alternative care within their extended families, exceptionally vulnerable to the long-term effects of institutionalisation.' Also read:Giving children a sense of belonging through adoption Furthermore, 'Currently, South Africa has children who are orphaned due to various reasons like violent crime, gender-based violence, HIV/Aids and the Covid-19. On the other hand, some children are abandoned due to the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and unwanted pregnancy.' She concluded that although adoption is a person's or a family's choice, it is important to promote adoption services and recruit prospective adoptive parents within the country. Applying for national adoption Only South African citizens residing in South Africa can apply, and must want to adopt a South African child. 1. Go to any adoption agency in any province of your choice to apply. 2. The adoption agency will conduct a screening/ home study to check if you are fit and proper to adopt a child. 3. If the agency is satisfied with the results, they will put you on a Register of Adoptable Children and Adoptive Parents while they help you search for a child who is available for adoption. 4. If a child is available, they will call you to the offices to meet the child and ask you if you are interested in adopting the child. 5. If you agree, they will send your report to the Children's Court to finalise the adoption and issue an adoption order. 6. The Court report will be sent to the Department of Social Development so they can check if correct procedure was followed and to record both your and the child's details. Also read: Ways to teach your child to accept all families The duration of the process differs from one case to another. And the cost will depend on the agency used. Abba Specialist Adoption & Social Services (Abba) is a non-profit organisation founded in 1983. They are a designated child protection organisation with adoption accreditation for national and inter-country adoptions. They provide a range of direct services to abandoned, neglected, orphaned, and vulnerable children who appear to be in need of permanent alternative family care. On the matter of the duration of the adoption process, Abba indicates, 'The screening process is not only establishing whether a prospective adoptive parent is fit and proper but is also a preparation process to ensure that parents are ready for the challenges of adoption and equipped to deal with them. At Abba, this process normally takes between 4-6 months. 'The waiting period for a child is closely related to the profile of the child that parents have applied for. There are, for instance, more black children available for adoption than children of other races, which can increase the waiting time for a baby.' The DSD encourages citizens to use the opportunity to adopt, and make a lasting difference in children's lives. All forms are available at your nearest Department of Social Development offices. For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
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Daily Express
12-07-2025
- Daily Express
Search for next of kin
Published on: Saturday, July 12, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 12, 2025 Text Size: Kota Kinabalu: The city welfare service office is currently searching for the family or next of kin of Gibran Irsyad (pic) , who is now 2 months old. The child was found under the stairs of a private residence in Kampung Lok Urai, Pulau Gaya, and was rescued by a member of the public. He was then admitted to the Sabah Women and Children's Hospital (HWKKS), Kota Kinabalu, for further treatment. On 4th July, the guardian applied for a temporary custody order at the Kota Kinabalu Children's Court to place the child under the care of a suitable and qualified guardian. Anyone who knows, recognizes, or has information about the family or next of kin of this child is requested to contact the guardian at the General Welfare Office of the Kota Kinabalu Division Musawer Madsan at 088-254648. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Irish Examiner
04-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Third man arrested in connection with Ballyfermot house fire
A third man has been arrested connection with setting a Ballyfermot family home on fire on May 21. The male, a juvenile in his teens, is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a garda station in Dublin. This is in addition to the arrests and charges of two men who were involved in the incident yesterday. One man, aged in his 20s, appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning, Friday, July 4, at 10.30am. The second man, a teenager, appeared before the Children's Court at the same time. The verdict is yet to be publicised. The family who lived in the house on Landon Road said it was like "waking up in hell" after the house was firebombed in the early hours of that morning. The Curran family — Pat, Breda and son Luke — were sleeping when a petrol bomb was launched through the front window of their house, setting the living room ablaze and killing the family dog. Gardaí at the time believed it was a case of mistaken identity. Investigations are ongoing. Read More Eight men jailed for 129 years after record €157m cocaine seizure off Cork coast
Sunday World
04-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man (20s) and teen charged after firebomb attack on family's home in Ballyfermot
The family had been injured and their dog burned to death after their home was targeted in the early morning attack A man in his 20s and a teenager have been arrested and charged by gardai investigating the firebomb attack on an innocent family's home in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10. Both were quizzed at Garda stations in Dublin by gardaí investigating an act of 'criminal damage by fire' that occurred at a residence on Landen Road on Wednesday, May 21. The Curran family had been injured and their dog burned to death after their home was targeted in the early morning attack. Detectives believe it was carried out as part of a worsening city feud involving a young drug dealer and junior associates of gangster Brian Rattigan. In an update released on Thursday night, a Garda spokesperson confirmed that the man and the teenager had both been charged in relation to the incident. A spokesperson said: 'One male, aged in his 20s is due to appear before Criminal Courts of Justice tomorrow morning Friday 4th July, 2025 at 10.30am. 'The second male, a juvenile in his teens, is due to appear before the Children's Court tomorrow morning Friday 4th July, 2025 at 10.30am. Investigations ongoing.' Breda Curran recalled hearing her husband Pat's screams from the sitting room at 2am, where he had been due to having difficulties sleeping. The fire-damaged Curran home News in 90 Seconds - Thursday, July 3 "I heard a big crashing sound… I jumped up and ran down the stairs. I could feel the heat coming up the stairs and it wasn't a normal heat,' Ms Curran said. The couple and their son ran out of the house into the garden, where they noticed that their sitting room window had a hole in it. Ms Curran told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that she grabbed their garden hose and ran back in because their dog had been sleeping in the sitting room. "We were calling his name, but the heat wouldn't let us back in. When we went into the sitting room door, the fire was everywhere,' she recalled. "The whole place was up in flames… we tried to call the dog but it was too late. We just heard him whimpering and then everything went silent.' She told how the family then stood out on the road, and watched on as their home burned to the ground. Mr Curran recalled his own perspective, waking up in the sitting room to breaking glass and seeing a line of fire right in front of him. "It was like waking up in hell… I don't know how I didn't go on fire. All I done was I started screaming, 'Breda, Breda, Breda.' "The thought came into my head, 'what did I do', I thought I was after falling asleep, did I do something to cause this? "This is evil that came to our house,' Mr Curran said. The Ballyfermot couple said being from old stock themselves, they did not have their home insured and would have felt a 'little bit more secure' if it had been. "I don't know if I can even come back here. I don't know if I would feel safe here. I just feel totally different now. I loved me home,' Ms Curran said. She told how she does shift work and would come home, clean up, have a shower and feed the dog. The couple said they don't drink or smoke, and spend their time watching Netflix in the evening. 'All I can think now is, what was all that for? It's gone,' Ms Curran said. They thanked their neighbours, who, since the attack, have been coming over and empathising and even handed the couple money in envelopes. "Strangers come up to us often,' Mr Curran said. 'I have to say, the community spirit in Ballyfermot, it is never talked about. But the respect, compassion, goodwill that is after coming from this community is something to be admired and it keeps me going.'
