Surrogacy is an effective fertility treatment that involves a third party
– the surrogate mother. It’s a true blessing for couples who have been
struggling with infertility specifically because the woman is unable to carry a
child. South African couples who are undergoing the same difficulty in life
seem to have embraced surrogacy gracefully over the past years.
Just like other nations having certain specific legal implications,
South Africa too has its own set of legal guidelines for both struggling
couples and surrogate mothers.
Surrogacy is South Africa has been a really controversial topic because
most people show little or no interest in accepting its risk-free benefits
openly. But things have changed considerably in the recent years following the
step-by-step Children’s Act introduced on 1 April 2010 by the South African
Legislation. South Africans have realized the real value of treatments like
surrogacy and IVF South
Africa. The act has shed light on all the things associated with surrogacy in South Africa to make
sure both the parties can have complete peace of mind before going for such
fertility treatments. Before the act, surrogacy program was very uncertain and
uneasy for both surrogate mothers and commissioning parents.
Rules for
potential surrogate mothers
The Children’s act has an entire chapter for surrogacy that gives clear
instructions to both parties. There are guidelines that tell who can apply as
potential surrogate mothers, and who cannot. The applicant must have one living
child that is biologically her own. She must also produce a documented proof of
her successful pregnancy. She must have her own legal residence in South
Africa, and she must have adequate knowledge and understanding of what
surrogacy actually is.
Rules for commissioning
parents
South African residence and documented evidence showing the real need
for surrogacy are two of the major legal assignments for the commissioning
parents. Besides that the gametes one of both the parents are needed for
conception of the child.