CHILDREN’S PROTECTION AND ADOPTION ACT (as amended at 01 December 2002)
tute if he knowingly allowed the child or young person to consort with or enter or continue in the employment of any prostitute or person of known immoral character.
(4)20 Any person convicted of an offence in terms of this section shall be liable to a fine not exceeding
twenty-five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine
and such imprisonment.
9 Medical examination and treatment of children and young persons
(1) Where a Government medical officer or a medical officer of a local authority has reason to suspect
that a child or young person is suffering from a disease or physical defect or is infested with vermin or
that the clothing of that child or young person is verminous or filthy, he may examine or authorize any
other medical practitioner to examine the person and clothing of that child or young person.
(2) For the purpose of conducting an examination in terms of subsection (1), the medical officer concerned may, by notice in writing, direct the parent or guardian of the child or young person concerned to
remove such child or young person within a period specified in the notice to a hospital or other place for
such examination.
(3) Where on an examination in terms of subsection (1) it appears that the child or young person concerned is suffering from any disease or physical defect, the medical officer concerned shall give notice in
writing of such fact to the parent or guardian of that child or young person and shall in that notice direct
the parent or guardian to provide, within a period to be specified in the notice, such dental, medical,
surgical or other treatment for the child or young person as may be specified in the notice.
(4) Where on an examination in terms of subsection (1) it appears that the child or young person concerned is infested with vermin or that his clothing is verminous or filthy, the medical officer concerned
may, by notice in writing, direct the parent or guardian of the child or young person to cleanse the person
or clothing of the child or young person in such manner and within such period as may be specified in
the notice:
Provided that the period so specified shall not be shorter than twenty hours from receipt by the parent
or guardian of the notice.
(5) For the purpose of ascertaining whether a direction given in terms of subsection (3) or (4) has been
complied with, the medical officer who gave the direction may examine or authorize any other medical
practitioner to examine the person and clothing of the child or young person in respect of whom the
direction was given, and for this purpose the medical officer may exercise the powers conferred by
subsection (2).
(6) Where a parent or guardian to whom a direction has been given in terms of subsection (2), (3) or
(4) fails to comply therewith within the period specified therein, the medical officer who gave the direction shall report the fact to the magistrate appointed to preside over the children's court of the district in
which the child or young person is resident.
(7) A magistrate to whom a report has been made in terms of subsection (6) may—
(a) after due inquiry and after affording the parents and the guardian, if any, of the child or young
person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter or without affording any
such person such opportunity if his whereabouts are unknown or if in the circumstances it is not
reasonably practicable to afford him such opportunity; and
(b) if satisfied that any examination of the child or young person concerned or his clothing or any
dental, medical, surgical or other treatment is necessary or desirable in the interests of the health of
the child or young person concerned;
by order in writing authorize the removal of the child or young person or his clothing to a hospital or other suitable place and
the performance there upon the child or young person or his clothing of such examination or such dental, medical, surgical or
other treatment as may be specified in the order.
(8) Where authority for the performance of an examination or treatment has been given in terms of
subsection (7), the person legally liable to maintain the child or young person concerned shall be liable
for the cost of such examination or treatment.
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