Question NW2636 to the Minister of Home Affairs
22 September 2022 - NW2636
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether, with reference to the requirement that a South African father of a child born to a foreign mother has to produce a DNA test result to confirm parentage before the child can receive South African citizenship, a fee waiver process is in place for the fathers who are indigents and cannot afford the cost of the DNA test; if not, will he put such a fee waiver process in place; if so, what is the process to apply for a fee waiver?
Reply:
No, there is no waiver of fees process in place by the Department for the parents who cannot afford DNA tests, as the fees and tariffs hereto are administered by the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS). The National Health Laboratory Service is a South African national government institution established in terms of the National Health Laboratory Service Act 37 of 2000 to provide quality, affordable and sustainable health laboratory and related public health services to all public healthcare providers, other government institutions.
The Department however has a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health regarding registration of births at health facilities. The DHA and DOH are exploring the provision of providing paternity tests free of charge or at a minimal fee to indigent clients. This will be done within the current MOA between the two departments once modalities are finalised.
END