Aussies can now adopt SA children

AUSTRALIAN families will now be able to adopt children from South Africa.

The Australian high commissioner to South Africa, Graeme Wilson, yesterday welcomed an announcement by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott of the start of the adoption programme. Abbott said Australian families would now be able to provide permanent, loving homes to South African children where a South African family could not be found.

Australia looked forward to working with the designated child protection organisation, the Cape Town Child Welfare Society.

The welfare society's chief executive, Niresh Ramklass, said his organisation looked forward to working with Australia on finding caring families to adopt South African children, if needed.