South Africa Case Law

B.U v C.M and Others (2025/017920)

B.U v C.M and Others (2025/017920) [2025] ZAWCHC 342 (12 August 2025)

Court

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

Case number

2025/017920

Judge

Njokweni

The court found that the First Respondent's conditions for granting consent to the minor child's overseas travel were unreasonable and amounted to a refusal of consent. Despite the First Respondent's assertion that he did not oppose the travel, the conditions he sought to impose were excessive and not aligned with the child's best interests. The court exercised its jurisdiction under section 18(5) of the Children’s Act and section 28 of the Constitution, determining that the Applicant should be permitted to travel with the minor child to the Czech Republic, subject to reasonable conditions th…

Source excerpt

• Child Travel Consent
• Parental Responsibilities And Rights
• Best Interests Of Child
• Mirror Order
• Section 18 Children Act
• Section 28 Constitution

C.L.D.S. v F.S.D.S.S. (2024/092744)

C.L.D.S. v F.S.D.S.S. (2024/092744) [2025] ZAGPJHC 726 (23 July 2025)

Court

South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg

Case number

2024/092744

Judge

C Von Ludwig

Rule 43 interim maintenance and costs were ordered pending divorce, with both parties allowed to remain in the common home.

• Rule 43 Interim Relief
• Parental Responsibilities And Rights
• Spousal Maintenance
• Contribution To Legal Costs
• Rule-43-interim-relief
• Spousal-maintenance

M.D.P v W.T.P and Another (Appeal) (A139/2024)

M.D.P v W.T.P and Another (Appeal) (A139/2024) [2025] ZAWCHC 300 (17 July 2025)

Court

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

Case number

A139/2024

Judges

Ndita, Savage, Mangcu-Lockwood

Appeal upheld in a child-residence dispute, with the court replacing a shared-residence order by a term/holiday split and immediate parenting coordination.

• Primary Residence Of Minor
• Parental Responsibilities And Rights
• Best Interests Of Child
• Parenting Coordinator
• School Holiday Contact
• Play Therapy

T.A.M v K.M (075348/2025)

T.A.M v K.M (075348/2025) [2025] ZAGPPHC 632 (11 June 2025)

Court

North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria

Case number

075348/2025

Judge

C Marumoagae

Urgent family-law application about child contact and alleged contempt was struck off, with interim contact arrangements and a Family Advocate referral.

• Care And Contact Of Minor Child
• Contempt Of Court
• Best Interests Of Child
• Urgent Application
• Parental Responsibilities And Rights
• Family-law

S.Z.M v M.N.M (127136/2024)

S.Z.M v M.N.M (127136/2024) [2025] ZAGPPHC 614 (11 June 2025)

Court

North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria

Case number

127136/2024

Judge

Domingo

Rule 43 interim relief was granted in part: spousal maintenance and support for the child of the marriage were ordered, but claims for the two other children were dismissed.

• Rule 43 Interim Relief
• Spousal Maintenance
• Child Maintenance
• Parental Responsibilities And Rights
• Contribution To Legal Costs
• In Loco Parentis

Y.T.B v J.F.B (034132/2022)

Y.T.B v J.F.B (034132/2022) [2025] ZAGPPHC 494 (16 May 2025)

Court

North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria

Case number

034132/2022

Judge

VAN NIEKERK N

The High Court dismissed an unopposed application to terminate a father’s guardianship, finding no proof that the relief was in the child’s best interests.

• Termination Of Guardianship
• Best Interests Of Child
• Parental Responsibilities And Rights
• Children S Act Section 28
• Termination-of-guardianship
• Best-interests-of-the-child

T.R.S.T v U.A.R and Others (019086/2023)

T.R.S.T v U.A.R and Others (019086/2023) [2025] ZAGPJHC 399 (14 April 2025)

Court

South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg

Case number

019086/2023

Judge

Senyatsi

The High Court refused a mother’s bid to relocate two young children from South Africa to Israel, finding the move not in their best interests.

• Relocation Of Minor Children
• Best Interests Of Child
• Parental Responsibilities And Rights
• Maintenance
• International Family Law
• Relocation-of-minor-children

E.V.D.M v S.R.V.D.M (099818/2023)

E.V.D.M v S.R.V.D.M (099818/2023) [2025] ZAGPPHC 378 (11 April 2025)

Court

North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria

Case number

099818/2023

Judge

Domingo

The court found that the clause in the contact agreement delegating binding decision-making power to the parenting coordinator was an unlawful and invalid delegation of judicial authority. Only courts may make binding rulings on parental rights and responsibilities; parenting coordinators may facilitate and mediate but cannot amend or determine such rights. The court ordered structured, phased-in contact arrangements for the respondent and the minor children, with the parenting coordinator appointed to implement and monitor these arrangements, but without authority to make binding changes to…

Source excerpt

• Parenting Coordination
• Parental Responsibilities And Rights
• Maintenance Pendente Lite
• Contribution To Legal Costs
• Children S Act
• Interim Contact Arrangements

Y.S v S.S (9895/25)

Y.S v S.S (9895/25) [2025] ZAWCHC 125 (18 March 2025)

Court

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

Case number

9895/25

Judge

Thulare

High Court family matter on child contact: the court dismissed a request to appoint a new psychologist, confirmed ongoing reintegration therapy, and ordered supervised contact.

• Parental Responsibilities And Rights
• Supervised Contact
• Best Interests Of Child
• Parenting Plan
• Reintegration Therapy
• Best-interests-of-child

S.P v C.H.P and Another (016689/2025)

S.P v C.H.P and Another (016689/2025) [2025] ZAGPPHC 267 (17 March 2025)

Court

North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria

Case number

016689/2025

Judge

E Joyini

Urgent family-law dispute over child contact. The High Court refused supervised-contact relief, upheld the existing divorce decree, and granted condonation.

• Parental Responsibilities And Rights
• Best Interests Of Child
• Supervised Contact
• Divorce Decree Enforcement
• Condonation For Late Filing
• Family-law