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Children's Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005)

Chapter 7 : Protection of Children

Part 4 : Other protective measures

135. Application to terminate or suspend parental responsibilities and rights

 

(1) The Director-General, a provincial head of social development or a designated child protection organisation may apply to a High Court, a divorce court in divorce matters or a children's court for an order—
(a) suspending for a period, terminating or transferring any or all of the parental responsibilities and rights which a specific person has in respect of a child; or
(b) restricting or circumscribing the exercise by that person of any or all of the parental responsibilities and rights that person has in respect of a child.

 

(2) An application in terms of subsection (1) may be brought without the consent of a parent or care-giver of the child if the child, at the time of the application—
(a) is older than seven years, and has been in alternative care for more than two years;
(b) is older than three years but not older than seven years, and has been in alternative care for more than one year; or
(c) is three years or younger, and has been in alternative care for more than six months.

 

(3) Section 29, read with such changes as the context may require, applies in respect of any proceedings in terms of this section.