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Is sex selection illegal in South Africa?

Yes. Sex selection is banned in South Africa. Picking an embryo's sex is a crime - up to 10 years in jail.

Regulations relating to artificial fertilisation of persons (National Health Act, 2012) reg. 13: preimplantation and prenatal testing to select a child's sex is prohibited except for a serious sex-linked or sex-limited condition; reg. 21: fine or up to 10 years' imprisonment (Soni, PER/PELJ 2019).

Source: NHA Regs 2012, reg. 13

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