Gearing up for implementation: A new Children's Act for South Africa

Abstract

The South African Government is presently processing a new comprehensive Children's Act, which is expected to be promulgated in 2008. The primary purpose of the Act is to give effect to the rights of children as contained in section 28 of the Constitution as well as other international child rights instruments ratified by South Africa. The implementation of the new Act holds extensive implications for the targeted beneficiaries, the mandated implementers and the capacity of the relevant organisations. Drawing on the perceptions of 700 social workers who participated in a Children's Act orientation training programme, the authors draw attention to several implementation challenges needing to be addressed if the objectives of the new legislation are to be realised.