Question NW3370 to the Minister of Home Affairs
06 November 2023 - NW3370
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Regarding impediments to the registration of births, what is the status of (a) establishing birth registration systems at all clinics and/or public hospitals with birth facilities in the Republic and (b) discussions with the Department of Health and/or any other relevant department(s) to provide free DNA testing to indigent South African fathers in order to prove the South African citizenship of a child for the purposes of the late registration of birth?
Reply:
a) The Department of Home Affairs in collaboration with the National Department of Health (DOH) facilitated the allocation of office space to the Department of Home affairs in health facilities.
There are 41 Priority 1 public health facilities responsible for the delivery of approximately 32.5% births, followed by 109 Priority 2 contributing to the delivery of approximately 36.50% births, 101 Priority 3 responsible for the delivery of approximately 15.50 % of births, 95 Priority 4 contributing to about 7.21% births delivered and 1099 Priority 5 which are mostly clinics and health community centres accounting for approximately 8.28% births delivered in public health facilities.
To date the Department rolled out the online birth registration system in 161 health facilities which contributes to approximately 68.35% of births delivered across the country.
b) The Department has a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DOH regarding registration of births at health facilities. The Department is engaging DOH and National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) in relation to exploring the provision of providing paternity tests free of charge or at a minimal fee to indigent clients. A revised agreement has been prepared to engage both DOH and NHLS.
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