Research 

International Journal of Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood 10(1):79-92 

Children's rights have evolved in South Africa under the new Constitution, which emphasizes social equity and inclusion. The 1994 transformation to democracy brought attention to an array of human rights issues, including the rights of children. In 2007 the Ministry of Social Development amended the Children's Act to give more provision to a range of issues in child protection, provision and participation. However, certain aspects of the Children's Act were met with mixed reactions from various stakeholders, including parents, teachers and other professionals. This exploratory study draws from interviews with parents and professionals regarding the implementation of the Children's Act and broader issues of children's rights in South Africa, as well as document analysis. Findings reveal a range of opinion about what constitutes children's rights, especially among Black parents who live in the townships. For most, the Act embodied good intentions, yet was also viewed as incongruent with some aspects of Indigenous cultural beliefs. We draw on anti-colonial theories and neoliberalism critiques to argue for the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in the conceptualization and implementation of children's rights in this context.