NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NUMBER: 146
DATE FOR PUBLICATION: 30 OCTOBER 2009
DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: 15 DECEMBER 2009
Mr. T.D. Harris (DA-WC) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES:
1) Whether the Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities
has been informed of the problem of persons falsely claiming to be
doctors offering illegal abortions to vulnerable women, if so, what is
the extent of this problem?
2) Whether she or her department has entered into discussion with the SA
Police Service and/or Department of Health to combat this problem; if
not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant
details?
NW224E
Response
At the outset, allow me to inform the Honourable MP Harris that neither my
Ministry nor the Department has received any such complain in writing as
yet, and to thank him for bringing the matter to my attention.
Such a matter of persons falsely claiming to be doctors, and therefore
illegally practicing medicine, is definitely a crime and a punishable
offense. Such cases need to be immediately reported to the relevant
authorities for immediate action. In this regard, I will be raising the
matter with the Minister for Police to ensure that investigations are
carried out and arrests made.
However, as this issue further relates to that of violation of the rights
of vulnerable women, including their exploitation in times of need and
stress is very much an issue of both, the Department of Health, and the
Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities.
In this regard, I will be raising the matter with the Minister of Health as
soon as possible in order to look at why such instances do occur â is it
because of the lack of access by some women to Public Health facilities
that can perform legal abortions.
However, as it is also an issue of awareness-raising among women on what
opportunities exist for a better quality of life, the Department of Women,
Children and Persons with Disabilities will seek to put in place such a
programme. The intention would be to make women aware of their rights and
opportunities available to them in the struggle for a better quality of
life.
END