CAPE TOWN – South Africa has lost two key partners in its international adoption program after the Netherlands and Denmark announced bans on adoptions from the country.
The Department of Social Development confirmed the news, revealing that the decision by the European nations was a significant setback for the program. Dr. Tebogo Mabe, head of Adoption Services, attributed the Netherlands’ decision to the increasing number of adult adoptees seeking to trace their biological parents.
South Africa has facilitated around 200 inter-country adoptions annually, with over 2,200 children placed in foreign homes since 2024. The country is grappling with a surge in orphaned children due to factors such as violence, gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Netherlands announced a phased-out approach to inter-country adoption, with the process expected to conclude by the end of 2025. The country’s government cited growing concerns about the impact of inter-country adoption on adopted children as a primary reason for the decision.
Denmark has taken a more drastic step, with its sole international adoption agency, Danish International Adoption (DIA), closing its operations in South Africa. The agency cited sanctions from Danish authorities as the reason for its closure.
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