Activist protesting at Union Buildings against proposals to criminalise baby savers

Activists are protesting at the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Friday against proposals to criminalise baby savers.

Child Protection Services and Baby Savers South Africa are fighting against the Department of Social Development’s proposed legislation that could declare the act of safely dropping off babies at facilities illegal.

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The protest is taking place a day before the public comment period on the amendment closes.

Protesting baby savers plan to hand over a memorandum calling for the scrapping of the proposed changes while demanding the legal recognition of safe baby surrender systems.

Baby savers are secure, temperature-controlled boxes, installed at hospitals, churches and community centres, allowing mothers to anonymously and safely leave their infants.

The boxes trigger an alarm when used, ensuring immediate rescue and care for the baby.

But the Gauteng Department of Social Development in 2023 declared these facilities illegal, despite a high court interim order extending the practice until January.

The department has now included baby savers in the legal definition of “abandonment” under proposed amendments to the Children’s Act, effectively classifying the act of using baby savers as a criminal offence.

Baby Savers SA said this move ignores the court process and undermines the right to life for vulnerable babies.