SCA ruling protects birth mothers’ right to choose adoption

South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed the Social Development Minister’s appeal in a case involving two mothers who had voluntarily chosen adoption for their children. It upheld findings that social workers had acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally, and ruled that the department’s national adoption practice guidelines were inconsistent with the law. The Women’s Legal Centre said the interventions pressured the women to consider other care arrangements, caused delays and compromised their privacy and dignity.