Legal abortion in South Africa

YES, women legally have the right to access abortion in South Africa up to the 20th week of pregnancy according to the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (amended 2008); abortion has been legal in South Africa since November 1996.

Up to 12 weeks of pregnancy an abortion can performed by a registered nurse/midwife; after 12 weeks an abortion must be performed by a trained medical doctor.

After the 20th week, women may be able to have an abortion but only in the event that the pregnancy would endanger the woman’s life, or if continued pregnancy would result in a severely malformed foetus. This type of abortion can only be performed at a designated government hospital.

The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act recognises that the right to decide whether or not to have children is fundamental to women’s physical, psychological and social health.

It calls for universal access to reproductive health care services which should include family planning and contraception, termination of pregnancy, and sexuality education and counselling services.

The act promotes reproductive rights and extends freedom of choice by affording every woman the right to choose whether to continue with a pregnancy or have an early, safe and legal termination of pregnancy, according to her individual beliefs and circumstances. 

Abortion clinic https://www.abortionsclinic.co.za
Abortion pills https://www.abortionsclinic.co.za/abortion-pills.html
Surgical abortion https://www.abortionsclinic.co.za/surgical-abortion.html
Womb cleaning https://www.abortionsclinic.co.za/womb-cleaning.html
Pregnancy termination pills https://www.abortionsclinic.co.za/pregnancy-termination.html