E. Cape: 896
Free State: 2041
Gauteng: 4 281
KZN: 12 445
Limpopo: 3 051
Mpumalanga:486
N. Cape: 345
N. West: 2 045
W. Cape: 4 888
These orders are now deemed to be valid by the North Gauteng High Court Order that was issued on 26 November 2019 therefore, there is no backlog of lapsed foster care orders.
2. Foster care orders that will be completed before the new deadline of November 2020;
EASTERN CAPE:
The Eastern Cape Province will ensure extension of all foster care orders affected by the NGHCO, before it expires on 26 November 2020. As already indicated above on the interpretation and implementation of the North Gauteng High Court Order and the Eastern Cape Province intersectoral position on the management of these foster care orders so as to avoid having all the affected orders lapsing on the same day when the NGHCO expires on 26 November 2020. Intersectoral collaboration and provision of tools of trade to social workers at service offices brought about the success in relation to the 2017 Judgement. The following measures which will ensure extension of foster care orders beyond 26 November 2020 will continue:
FREE STATE:
At the time of the expiry of the North Gauteng High Court Order, 2041 orders were due to lapse, but all these orders are deemed valid in line with the North Gauteng High Court Order extension. The Provincial and District Plans are reviewed to ensure the management of the extension of foster care orders in the Province.
GAUTENG:
Gauteng Province is committed to finalise all lapsed orders by end of November 2020. However, the extension of the foster care orders is dependent on other Stakeholders including, Department of Justice, Home Affairs, etc.
Furthermore, there are challenges experienced from some of the Stakeholders, such as:
KZN:
The Province of KwaZulu-Natal has implemented various strategies to ensure effective implementation of the North Gauteng High Court Order Interim Regime issued 26 November 2019 in order to meet the new deadline date. The strategies include amongst others:
LIMPOPO:
All the foster care cases covered by North Gauteng High Court Order will have been completed by November 2020. The Province has developed action plans in the districts which are monitored on weekly basis to ensure that the cases are attended to.
MPUMALANGA:
All court orders projected to lapse by November 2020 will be attended to before the expiry of the
North Gauteng High Court Order on Foster Care.
NORTHERN CAPE:
The Northern Cape, Department of Social Development, has systems in place to monitor the implementation of the NGHCO. There is a good working relationship between DSD, SASSA and Department of Justice. The Department of Social Development in the Northern Cape Province resolve to implement the provisions of the Children’s Act in full.
NORTH WEST:
The Province will ensure the review of all the foster care orders that are due to lapse in 2020 and extend all eligible placement s through intensifying monthly monitoring of performance at all levels and capacitating all 18 alternative care units.
WESTERN CAPE:
The North Gauteng High Court Order granted on the 26th of November 2019 deemed all foster care orders valid until 25 November 2020.
The Western Cape Department of Social Development has a provincial foster care management plan in place to manage foster care in the province to ensure that orders are extended before the termination of the current High Court Order. This plan is dependent on the other processes in collaboration with other departments namely:
a) Social workers to approach the children's coats with any timelines to obtain foster care orders for the full duration of the two years or beyond in terms of section 186 of the Children's Act 38 of 2005.
b) Regions were cautioned against issuing confirmation letters for the duration of the current North Gauteng High Court Order to prevent a repetition of a large number of foster care orders lapsing simultaneously on 25 November 2020.
c) The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to extend foster care orders for two years or beyond.
d)Form 30 notifications are to be issued within the required timeframe by the National Department of Social Development.
e) Birth certificates of children in the alternative care system to be issued timelessly by the Department of Home Affairs.
f) Foster care orders to be submitted to SASSA timeously to ensure the continuation of the foster child grants.
The Western Cape remains committed to ensure the care and protection of children in the alternative care system