High maternal mortality rates coupled with poor socioeconomic conditions in developing countries indicate the need for those truly dedicated to improvement of maternal well-being to investigate advances in methods of pregnancy regulation and to implement those found to be effective and acceptable. In a trial involving 100 patients at Tygerberg Hospital that commenced in December 1993, Norplant was found to be highly acceptable and easy to use. It is strongly recommended that the acceptability of Norplant to the general South African population be evaluated further and then, hopefully, made available to all our people without undue delay.