More than a third of children taken from their parents in Gauteng over the past three years were removed in terms of the Children Act, but without a court order.
According to a Beeld report, this was revealed in an answer of Social Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza in reply to a question from the DA. A total of 13 social workers have been charged with unprofessional conduct for non-compliance with the Act. Mayathula-Khoza said 1 741 children in the province were taken from their parents or caregivers - 589 of them without a court order. DA spokesperson Hendrika Kruger said it amounted to unprofessional conduct by a social worker who abused his or her powers to take away a child without a court order. Departmental spokesperson Sello Mokoena said the law provides for immediate intervention by social workers where a child needs immediate protection, but social workers should inform the court afterwards and report those matters to the department. Full Beeld report