Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini has reached important milestones in its foster care system, with 135 children placed in foster care, 320 trained and certified foster parents, 167 registered foster families, and three children successfully reintegrated into their birth families.
This was revealed during the commissioning of the National Foster Care Treatment Committee on Thursday, 30 October 2025, at the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office Boardroom in Mbabane, highlighting the country’s commitment to family and community based care and the protection of children in safe, loving homes.
Speaking during the event, Fikile Lukhele said, “These milestones demonstrate our growing ability to place children in family based care safely, with trained parents providing stability and care every child deserves.” She emphasised that fostering is not only about placement but also about ensuring children receive consistent support, guidance, and access to essential services.
Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla added, “These children deserve dignity, stability, and the opportunity to thrive. Every child should grow up in a safe, loving environment.” She highlighted that foster families are supported to meet their responsibilities and help children access vital services, including birth certificates and the Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) grant.
The milestones follow court authorised placements, with only one case flagged due to a large age difference between a foster child and prospective parents. They are guided by the 2021 National Guidelines on Kinship and Foster Care, the National Quality Standards on Foster Care, and the Revised National Guidelines on Alternative Care (2021).
Officials say these achievements reflect Eswatini’s ongoing commitment to family and community based care, moving away from institutional care and ensuring children grow up in safe, stable, and nurturing homes.
With hundreds of trained foster parents and over a hundred children placed in loving homes, these milestones mark a major step forward in child protection, strengthening family-based care and giving children the opportunity to thrive in supportive environments.
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