In terms of the Children’s Act, parents have rights and responsibilities when it comes to their children. The rights and responsibilities can either be full of specific. Section 18(2) makes mention of the following rights and responsibilities:

1. To care for the child: The word care includes but is not limited to making sure that a child has a place to live, financial support and favourable living conditions; protection from abuse; safeguarding the child’s rights; building a relationship with the child and making sure that the best interests of the child are of paramount concern in all matters related to the child.

2. To maintain contact with the child: Contact includes having a personal relationship with the child and in circumstances where the child lives with someone else, a parent must communicate with the child regularly, visit the child or allow the child to visit him/her. 

3. To act as guardian of the child: Section 18(3) states that any person or parent acting as a guardian of a child must – administer and safeguard the child’s property and property interests; assist or represent the child in administrative, contractual or other legal matters; and give or refuse consent required by law in respect of the child.

4. To contribute to the maintenance of the child: Both parents have a duty to maintain their children. Maintenance includes food, clothing, housing, school expenses, medical expenses and other general expenses.

Reference list:

Children’s Act 38 of 2005