Central Authority (The Republic of South Africa) and Another v H (150/19) [2019] ZAGPPHC 85 (15 March 2019)

Central Authority (The Republic of South Africa) and Another v H (150/19) [2019] ZAGPPHC 85 (15 March 2019)

The court found that E D H was habitually resident in Luxembourg prior to her removal and that her removal was wrongful under the Hague Convention. The respondent failed to establish, on a balance of probabilities, that returning E would expose her to grave psychological harm or place her in an intolerable situation...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2019] ZAGPPHC 85
Parties
Applicant: Central Authority (The Republic of South Africa); Applicant: L D H; Respondent: P H
Court
North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Case Number
150/19
Procedural Posture
Urgent Application / Final Judgment After Urgent Application and Supplementary Affidavits
Outcome
Application granted. The minor child E D H is ordered to be returned forthwith to the jurisdiction of the courts of Luxembourg, subject to specified conditions.
Judges
Collis
Legal Topics
Hague Convention Child Abduction, Habitual Residence, Best Interests of Child, Curator Ad Litem, Psychological Harm Exception, Children S Act 38 of 2005
Family and Children Civil Procedure Administrative Law Hague Convention Child Abduction Habitual Residence Best Interests of Child Curator Ad Litem Psychological Harm Exception +1 more

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Parties

Central Authority (The Republic of South Africa)

Applicant

L D H

Applicant

P H

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Urgent Application / Final Judgment After Urgent Application and Supplementary Affidavits

  1. 1 Whether the removal of the minor child E D H from Luxembourg to South Africa was wrongful under the Hague Convention.
  2. 2 Whether the child should be returned to Luxembourg under Article 12 of the Hague Convention.
  3. 3 Whether the respondent established an exception under Article 13(b) of the Hague Convention, namely grave risk of psychological harm or intolerable situation.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that E D H was habitually resident in Luxembourg prior to her removal and that her removal was wrongful under the Hague Convention. The respondent failed to establish, on a balance of probabilities, that returning E would expose her to grave psychological harm or place her in an intolerable situation as contemplated by Article 13(b). The court considered the expert reports and undertakings by the second applicant to provide financial support, which mitigated the respondent's concerns. The respondent's potential arrest in Luxembourg was not substantiated and any consequences would result from her own violation of court orders. The court emphasized that the best interests of...

Court Disposition

Application granted. The minor child E D H is ordered to be returned forthwith to the jurisdiction of the courts of Luxembourg, subject to specified conditions.

Orders

  • The minor child E D H shall be returned forthwith to the jurisdiction of the courts of Luxembourg, subject to the terms of this order.
  • Respondent must indicate in writing to First Applicant within 5 days whether she intends to accompany E to Luxembourg; if so, she must return with E within 10 days, subject to further terms.