Impact of Christianity and Ancestral Beliefs on Black South Africans’ Decision-Making Regarding the Adoption of Abandoned Children

Abstract

Annually, hundreds of African infants are abandoned in South Africa and become adoptable because rigorous efforts to trace their parents and family members are unsuccessful. Although domestic adoption is prioritised in terms of legislation, policy and practice, most abandoned children’s right to be permanently raised in a loving family is not being realised. The most promising source of potential adopters is black South Africans, but the number of black adopters is ever declining. To investigate factors affecting black South African’s decision-making regarding the legal adoption of abandoned children, a post-graduate study was undertaken. Thirty-nine black adults participated in the study consisting of adopters, adoption applicants in the screening process, potential adopters that did not enter the screening process, adoption of social workers and citizens. The theory emerging derived from concurrent data gathering and analysis as set out by Corbin and Strauss is: ‘Tensions surrounding adoption policy and practice, and perceptions and experiences of adoption’. This article focuses on a main category of this grounded theory; that African ancestral beliefs and modern Christian beliefs can both reinforce and discourage adoption abandoned children.

Documentary analysis of the legal and policy framework of transracial adoption in South Africa

“…Transracial adoption in South Africa represents a stark example of adoption as an index of vulnerability (Treitler, 2014) as Black children are especially vulnerable because of apartheid (Luyt & Swartz, 2022b) while social services resources were historically allocated disproportionally to White South Africans (Patel et al, 2017). The South African adoption system, based in Western notions of family, does not accord well with the Black African population (Gerrand, 2018; Gerrand & Nathane‐Taulela, 2015; Gerrand & Nkomo, 2020; Gerrand & Stevens, 2019; Gerrand & Warria, 2020) and is forbidden in Islam (Assim & Sloth‐Nielsen, 2014). The shortage of prospective Black African adoptive parents is well documented, whereas foster care, especially by extended family, is a more popular option (Gerrand, 2018; Gerrand & Nathane‐Taulela, 2015; Gerrand & Nkomo, 2020; Gerrand & Stevens, 2019; Gerrand & Warria, 2020).…”

“…The South African adoption system, based in Western notions of family, does not accord well with the Black African population (Gerrand, 2018; Gerrand & Nathane‐Taulela, 2015; Gerrand & Nkomo, 2020; Gerrand & Stevens, 2019; Gerrand & Warria, 2020) and is forbidden in Islam (Assim & Sloth‐Nielsen, 2014). The shortage of prospective Black African adoptive parents is well documented, whereas foster care, especially by extended family, is a more popular option (Gerrand, 2018; Gerrand & Nathane‐Taulela, 2015; Gerrand & Nkomo, 2020; Gerrand & Stevens, 2019; Gerrand & Warria, 2020). Transracial adoption remains controversial in South Africa (Luyt et al, 2022; Church, 1996; Moos & Mwaba, 2007; Mosikatsana, 1995, 1997; Tanga & Kausi, 2017) as it is internationally (Ali, 2014; Branco, 2022; Butler‐Sweet, 2011; Goldberg et al, 2022; Kennedy, 2003; Roorda, 2007; Fenster, 2002).…”

“…The South African adoption system, based in Western notions of family, does not accord well with the Black African population (Gerrand, 2018;Gerrand & Nathane-Taulela, 2015;Gerrand & Nkomo, 2020;Gerrand & Stevens, 2019;Gerrand & Warria, 2020) and is forbidden in Islam (Assim & Sloth-Nielsen, 2014). The shortage of prospective Black African adoptive parents is well documented, whereas foster care, especially by extended family, is a more popular option (Gerrand, 2018;Gerrand & Nathane-Taulela, 2015;Gerrand & Nkomo, 2020;Gerrand & Stevens, 2019;Gerrand & Warria, 2020).…”

Transracial adoption practice in South Africa: The Western Cape as a case study

“…Up‐to‐date statistics related to adoption in South African are difficult to access, but many of the challenges facing adoption at the time of the implementation of the Children's Act remain. The number of national adoptions in South Africa remain low and opportunities which existed in legislation and policy to improve access to adoption remain underutilised (Gerrand, 2018; Gerrand & Nathane‐Taulela, 2015; Gerrand & Nkomo, 2020; Gerrand & Stevens, 2019; Gerrand & Warria, 2020; Louw, 2017). The rate of adoption of Black African children by Black African parents is low and decreasing (Gerrand, 2018; Gerrand & Stevens, 2019; Gerrand & Warria, 2020; Mkhwanazi et al, 2018).…”

“…Alternative care in Black African communities is primarily through formal and informal kinship fostering (Kidman & Thurman, 2014; Matthias & Zaal, 2009; Mokomane & Rochat, 2010, 2012; Townsend & Dawes, 2007). Black African families are excluded from adoption (Callahan, 2018) and perceive adoption to be an inappropriate form of child care (Gerrand, 1997, 2018; Gerrand & Nathane‐Taulela, 2015; Gerrand & Nkomo, 2020; Gerrand & Stevens, 2019; Gerrand & Warria, 2020).…”