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When is an abortion legal?

Find out when you can terminate a pregnancy and who should be doing it.


Abortion has been legal in South Africa for more than 20 years but many women are still having unsafe abortions, performed by unqualified people. Recent research by the global human rights organisation Amnesty International found that many women don’t know abortion is legal in South Africa, nor the level of care they are entitled to.

Less than 7% of the country’s 3 880 health facilities provide abortions, according to the Amnesty International briefing document released in February. 

In South Africa, abortion is legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy but who performs the procedure can differ depending on how far along the pregnancy is, according to the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act 

Confused? Check out what the law says.  

Ina Skosana was a health reporter at Bhekisisa.

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