Question NW3227 to the Minister of Social Development
24 October 2022 - NW3227
Arries, Ms LH to ask the Minister of Social Development
What (a) is the total number of children who were orphaned due to the death of both parents and/or caregivers over the COVID-19 period and (b) total number of the specified children have been placed in foster care?
Reply:
a) According to information received from provinces, there is no statistics on children orphaned due to the death of both parents and/or caregivers over the COVID-19 period as the cause of death of parents and/ caregivers is not captured on statistical records, rather children are categorised as orphans. Only Mpumalanga recorded a total number of 4 134 children during that period.
b) There are children in need of care and protection that were placed in foster care during the outbreak of the pandemic, however this is not necessarily children who were orphaned due to the death of both parents and/or caregivers over the COVID-19 period.