AIDS orphans growing as adoptions slow in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — Fewer AIDS orphans are finding adoptive families in South Africa even as their numbers and the cases of abuse are growing steadily, social development minister Zola Skweyiya said Monday.

Of some 1.5 million AIDS orphans in the country, a tiny fraction of about 1,900 were adopted by South Africans last year, down nearly 13 percent from the year before, Skweyiya told reporters.

"South Africa is facing a challenge of increasing numbers of orphaned children, abandoned babies, worrying levels of abuse, neglect and exploitation of children," he told journalists in Pretoria.

The government provides support to about 238,000 AIDS orphans and to more than 20,000 homes where older children care for younger Continue reading the remaining 50% ...