Abortion is legal in South Africa, yet most pregnant people do not know that they are legally entitled to a free abortion at a public health care facility if they so desired. In South Africa, many pregnant people do not always know where to access safe abortion services or even where to access information on abortion facilities.
Do you know your rights when it comes to abortions?
Did you know
- That reproductive rights are human rights?
- That the decision to have children resides with the person who is able to fall pregnant?
- That universal access to reproductive health care services includes contraception, termination of pregnancy, sexuality education and counselling services?
- That all those able to fall pregnant have the right to be informed of and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of fertility regulation of their choice?
- That those able to fall pregnant have the right to access appropriate health care services and the state has the responsibility to provide reproductive health to all?
- That the state also has the responsibility to provide safe conditions under which the right of choice can be exercised without fear of harm or stigma?
South African law says
All pregnant people have the right to access safe and legal abortions, for free at a government hospital or clinic, during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Before the end of the first 3 months of pregnancy, an abortion can be carried out by a doctor or a trained registered nurse or midwife, therefore making an abortion more accessible earlier in the pregnancy.
Health workers CANNOT refuse to perform an abortion because of
- Your age: If you are under 18, you can ask a trusted adult for support or to accompany you while you have the abortion, only if you want to. No one, including your parents, has the right to say you cannot have the abortion if you want it.
- What your spouse or partner says.
- Any other reason not related to your physical health, such as your choice of work, your relationship status, or your immigration status.
Did you know?
- There is no limit on the number of abortions that you are allowed to have under South African Law!
Where can you have an abortion in South Africa?
You may choose to visit a clinic or prefer to self-manage your abortion at home using medication. Self-management at home is possible if your pregnancy is less than 10 weeks.
If you choose at-home abortion, you can do an online consultation with Abortion Support South Africa. Visit www.abortionsupport.co.za to answer questions about your pregnancy and medical history. A partner doctor will review your information and, if you are medically eligible for at-home abortion, the doctor will prescribe abortion medication (mifepristone and misoprostol, or misoprostol alone). You can collect your medicines at a pharmacy that is convenient for you. You will be provided with instructions on how to safely self-manage your abortion at home and what to do in the rare case of complication.
If you decide to have an abortion at a clinic, you can use the WheretoCare map here to locate a nearby public or private abortion clinic. This is a data free map if used on your mobile phone. Please turn on your mobile data service and allow location permission when asked so that the map can show clinics near you.
Please keep in mind that this map does not include all abortion clinics so there may be a clinic near to you that is not listed. You can always visit your closest clinic to check if they offer abortion or ask for a referral to the closest clinic that does provide abortion services.
