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centre for child lawlatest news & developments
File photo by Madelene Cronjé

Lack of resources, not migration control, contributes to SA education problems, says law centre

A shortage of resources is failing South Africa’s undocumented children, with more than 258 000 awaiting birth registration, says the Centre for Child Law

File photo by ER Lombard/Gallo Images via Getty Images

Court orders home affairs not to ‘block’ children’s IDs

The decision will provide relief to children whose parents’ identity documents have been marked as suspicious or under investigation

File photo by ER Lombard/Gallo Images via Getty Images

Home Affairs in court for ‘blocking’ identity documents

Lawyers For Human Rights is representing more than 100 people who have fallen victim to an “arbitrary” ID blocking practice by Home Affairs

Hard Livings: The life of a child gangster

Debate is heating up over the Child Justice Amendment Act increasing the criminal capacity age from 10 to 12 years

File photo: Madelene Cronjé/M&G

Corporal punishment in rural schools is ‘big challenge’ for South African Council of Educators

The council received 169 corporal punishment complaints in 2020-21

Worried: Mondli Gungubele, the chairperson of the parliamentary
committee on social development. (David Harrison/M&G)

Foster care grants at risk – again

Delays in amending legislation have left foster parents at the mercy of an overburdened system

Under fire: Minister Patricia De Lille is facing several allegations of irregularities. Suspended director general Sam Vukela alleges she has disregarded administrative processes. (Photo: David Harrison/M&G)

The farm, the millions and Patricia De Lille

An irregular farm lease is at the centre of a legal tussle between Patricia de Lille and her suspended director general at public works

Free education includes not only the absence of fees but also all other costs, including free, reliable and safe transport. (Oupa Nkosi)

Summing up the legal battles fought for better schools

We summarise the legal battles fought to improve the quality of education in South Africa.

File photo by Madelene Cronjé

High court forbids expulsion of undocumented children

This follows an application by the Centre for Child Law, Phakamisa High School and 37 children — represented by the Legal Resources Centre against DBE

On the line: People have to face a number of obstacles, including long waits at various home affairs offices (above), in order to get the birth certificates, identity documents and passports. (Madelene Cronjé/M&G)

Schools expel children with no IDs

A case at the Makhanda high court this week could be the only hope for those who don’t have birth certificates to attend school

Passport to education: Undocumented children still have the right to an education. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Migrant children’s education must be ensured, not promised

Although the education of children of immigrants is protected in the Bill of Rights, it is labelled an offence in the Immigration Act

Slip-up: Thousands of teachers are sliding through cracks in the South African Council for Educators’ system for checking whether their qualifications are genuine and they’re not rapists or paedophiles. (Oupa Nkosi)

Vetting lapse puts pupils at risk

Would-be teachers require police clearance certificates but these are not being produced

(Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters)

Sons and daughters of no country

If amendments to the Births and Deaths Registration Act are approved, children of migrants might find it even more difficult to access basic services

Jiba was acting NDPP from December 28 2011 until August 30 2013. (Gallo)

Landmark moment for children’s rights in South Africa

The constitutionality of corporal punishment in the home will be determined by the apex court

(Madelene Cronje/M&G)

Child law centre loses SCA bid to have identities protected after child turns 18

Media houses may continue to name children involved in criminal cases after they turn 18 and ‘become adults’

Gauteng Premier David Makhura said the province would do whatever is needed to address the shortage of additional space and beds to accommodate the rising Covid-19 admissions in hospitals.

No proof of birth, no education

An undocumented mother’s fight to get her children schooled highlights flaws in the law

NGOs: Children’s rights forgotten in election manifestos

A number of NGOs have pointed out that children’s rights to education and healthcare are not considered an election issue by parties, but should be.

Actor Donald Glover poses with his award during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Schools left in an intolerable infrastructure limbo

Priority rescues must be planned for schools where pupils’ safety and health are now at risk.

The LRC brought the application in August seeking to get the department to conduct new and credible furniture audit and supply the desperately outstanding desks and chairs to schools. (Madelene Cronje, M&G)

Eastern Cape schools still without desks and chairs

The Eastern Cape education department has allegedly failed to comply with a court order, leaving thousands of pupils without school desks and chairs.

Angie Motshekga says that President Jacob Zuma’s comments on women ‘should not be a reflection of how he treats women’.

Basic education department ordered to fill vacant Eastern Cape teaching posts

The Grahamstown High Court has ordered the department of basic education to fill vacant posts in Eastern Cape public schools by November.