MBABANE – Noting the growing concerns and outcry from fathers who have been unknowingly raising children who are not theirs, MPs are pushing for a mandatory DNA test for new-borns.
Deoxyribonucleic acid, more commonly known as DNA, is a complex molecule that contains all of the information necessary to build and maintain an organism.
Mahlangatsha Member of Parliament (MP), Mgucisi Dlamini, seconded by Mhlambanyatsi MP Dr Bonginkosi Dlamini, is expected to move a motion in Parliament this afternoon.
The motion is pushing for the collaboration of the Ministry of Home Affairs with the Ministry of Health in developing and implementing a policy that mandates the consideration of DNA testing prior to or during the issuance of birth certificates, especially in cases where paternity is disputed or unclear.
It further seeks to call upon the Minister for Home Affairs, Princess Lindiwe to, within 60 days after the adoption of the motion, bring an amendment of the National Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act of 2023, accommodate the use of DNA test before registering birth certificates.
In the motion, which forms part of the Parliament business today, the MPs are expressing concern that the current birth registration system does not verify paternity and may contribute to cases of paternity fraud, emotional trauma, broken families and unjust financial responsibilities, something which they want the two ministries to put into consideration as they ponder on the issue. The MPs want the ministries to acknowledge that the issuance of a birth certificate is a legal document that affirms the identity and parentage of a child and thus must be based on accurate and verifiable information, believing that truth and transparency in family matters are vital for social stability, justice and the protection of both men and children.
“We, therefore, move that the government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, develop and implement a policy that mandates the consideration of DNA testing prior to or during the issuance of birth certificates, especially in cases where paternity is disputed or unclear,” reads the motion.
The motion, as desired by the legislators, reflects that government must establish a legal and ethical framework that regulates DNA testing to ensure the protection of the rights of the child, the mother and the alleged father.
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Giving child wrong surname taboo – Kwakha Indvodza
MBABANE – Kwakha Indvodza Executive Director Ncamiso Dlamini says giving a child a wrong surname is fraud to the man and culturally, it is taboo.
Dlamini said although he was not convinced that it should be government that hold people to account because that would require extra resources from government, he was supporting the motion.
He said that it was a good motion that can help the country move forward in terms of reducing the incidents related to abuse of children by hiding their true identity from them.
He mentioned that he finds it very abusive that a parent can give a wrong identity to her child by giving the child a wrong surname, especially in a country where there are a lot of common surnames like Dlamini and the chances are, they can grow and find love at the same surname as their original.
“Our goal as an organisation is to bring peace to families and communities. This is one way men can be assisted not to be manipulated financially by their partners. For me, this is a fraud by our partners, taking advantage of the fact that men are vulnerable. This is one example of where men are very vulnerable,” he said.
Dlamini said they frown upon people who do that, taking away the true identity of a person and the fact that culturally, it’s a taboo to give a child a wrong surname while the biological father is still alive.
He also mentioned that as an organisation, they hope such a move can reduce the number of gender-based violence (GBV) cases because the maintenance of a child from birth until they grow up is not easy.
“There are people who make a lot of sacrifices, lose a lot in the process trying to be good fathers, only to discover that all along they have been played. It really takes a toll on one, it eats at the core of your humanity and you lose it, you lose your identity as a person,” he said.
Dlamini revealed that he fully supports the motion and hopes that government takes it up as early as possible. He said that this could be achieved by negotiating affordable testing costs with laboratories.
*Full article available in our publication.
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