Whatshot

2026
2025
November
2024
June
April
2023
March
2022
2021
2020
March
February
2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2014
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2013
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2012
December
November
October
September
August
July

Legal Talk

Legal Talk

Author: Fawzia Khan
Date: 2014-06-13
There is no denying that the youth of today are our leaders of tomorrow. Teaching a child to know right from wrong and making them understand that they have rights and responsibilities forms the cornerstone of every parenting rule book.

Often the manner in which a young individual is raised, the values instilled as well as the prevailing environmental conditions all help shape and influence that individual's character later on in life. As June is the month dedicated to recognizing the power the youth can have on its society, we take a look at what rights children are given in South Africa.

Source: info.gov.co. Section 28 in the Constitution of South Africa is devoted to children and outlines the rights that they are entitled to. This does not mean that other rights enshrined in our constitution do not apply to them - Section 28 is specifically for SA citizens under the age of 18. It reads as follows:

1. Every child has the right 
a) to a name and a nationality from birth
b) to family care or parental care, or to appropriate alternative care when removed from the family environment
c) to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services
d) to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation
e) to be protected from exploitative labour practices
f) not to be required or permitted to perform work or provide services that 
i) are inappropriate for a person of that child's age ot
ii) place at risk the child's well-being, education, physical or mental health or spiritual, moral or social development
g) not to be detained except as a measure of last resort, in which case, in addition to the rights a child enjoys under sections 12       and 35,   the child may be detained only for the shortest appropriate period of time, and has the right to be 
i) kept separately from detained persons over the age of 18 years and
ii) treated in a manner, and kept in conditions, that take account of the child's age
h) to have a legal practitioner assigned to the child by the state, and at state expense, in civil proceedings affecting the child, if           substantial injustice would otherwise result; and
i) not to be used directly in armed conflict, and to be protected in times of armed conflict.

2. A child's best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.

3. In this section "child" means a person under the age of 18 years.

Know your rights! Email fawzia@thelawdesk.co.za or call 031-5025670 for legal assistance. The Law Desk of Fawzia Khan & Associates. We Know! We Care! We Deliver! Follow us on Twitter: @AttorneyFawzia