Issued by: SA Communication Service
The Family Advocate has taken note of the fact that the Natural Fathers of Extra-marital Children Bill, 1996, will in all probability be introduced into Parliament in the near future.
The envisaged legislation is welcomed by the Division. It now makes provision for the family advocate to intervene in proceedings where the rights of children born out of wedlock are concerned, and can also conduct investigations at the request of either parties provided that there are pending litigation. This represents a substantial improvement in the situation of these children because present legislation regulating investigations by the Family Advocate only refers to children born from a legal marriage. Although the Courts occasionally refer matters to the Family Advocate, relating to children born out of wedlock, the majority of these cases are handled by the courts without any investigation by the Division.
The Family Advocate is looking forward to broadening its services to include investigations into the interest of children born out of wedlock as there has been a definite need for assistance by the Family Advocate for some time and the Divisions has always been of the view that the needs of children are universally the same, whether their parents are married or not.
Enq: G J van Zyl Tel: 3230760 Fax: 3264633 12 September 1996