The Democratic Alliance (DA) has advanced a Private Members Bill to legalise the safe relinquishment of newborn babies.

The proposal would authorise registered child protection organisations to operate baby saver devices and recognise designated baby safe havens across South Africa, creating a lawful route for mothers to hand over infants without prosecution.

The draft also aims to define key terms, set equipment standards, and require immediate referral of relinquished babies to social workers and healthcare professionals.

Supporters argue that current law treats babies placed in saver boxes as abandoned, exposing mothers to criminal charges. They say this legal gap drives unsafe abandonment and preventable infant deaths.

In other countries, safe haven laws allow anonymous surrender at hospitals, police stations, and accredited shelters.

The Bill proposes standardised procedures for intake, documentation, and data collection, and would clarify adoption pathways if a child remains unclaimed after a set period.

The measure is widely seen as a humane reform that prioritises infant safety over punishment.