A protection order hearing in South Africa is the court process where the magistrate considers whether a protection order should be granted, confirmed, varied or refused. The outcome depends on the evidence, the facts, the nature of the relationship, and whether the conduct falls within domestic violence, harassment or another recognised basis for protection. If […]
Your husband’s behaviour is entirely his own fault – but before you take any action, ring a helpline for advice This article appeared recently in an advice column in a UK newspaper. It is heart-rending, and a sad real-life illustration of the challenges women face leaving an abusive marriage or relationship. We wrote a series […]
Reprinted from the Guardian, by Anna Moore – 2022-05-09 Can men who assault or intimidate their partners be taught to respect women? We talk to campaigners and perpetrators – and sit in on one of their classes In this Zoom call, four men are looking at a list of family duties and marking which they […]
2021 marks 30 years of Global 16 Days of Activism As long as I’ve been practising law, and as long as I’ve published this blog, I’ve been writing about violence against women (VAW), gender-based violence (GBV), domestic violence, domestic abuse, and a raft of other terms that basically refer to the same thing. Physical violence […]
What the law says Sadly, one of the causes of divorce or relationship breakdown is domestic abuse, whether physical or emotional. The situation is traumatic enough on its own, but when there are children of the marriage or partnership, it can become very complicated. Numerous competing rights need to be balanced. How do you go […]
What changes are in the newly published Domestic Violence Bill? In our practice, we see at first hand the extent of the gender-based violence epidemic in our country. It is a factor in divorce, and we are often involved in securing protection orders for women threatened by a potentially or actually violent partner. So we […]
Who is right and who is wrong in this high-profile divorce? We often envy celebrities their money and their glamour, but popularity comes at a cost. Going through divorce is tough enough. Most of us are able to navigate this extremely difficult life event in private, calling on our closest friends and family for support. […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed some silver linings. Justice minister Ronald Lamola announces steps to make it easier to secure uncontested divorces, protection orders and maintenance orders, and measures to increase the fight against domestic violence. Reprinted from Dispatch Live, By Andisiwe Makinana – 2020-07-23 New laws will provide for online applications for uncontested divorces, child […]
