This thesis explores the use of domicilium as a criterion in choice of law and jurisdiction in South African law with special reference to private-law status. In this area of the law adherence to the status theory has, in the recent past, resulted in the use of domicile as an exclusive ratio jurisdictionis. This has impacted negatively on choice of law issues in status matters: since domicile constituted the sole jurisdictional criterion, little attention was devoted to choice of law. Even though the lex domicilii was, in actual fact, applied to choice of law issues concerning private-law status, it happened only as a result of the assumption of jurisdiction by the forum domicilii. With the emergence of alternative jurisdictional criteria, such as ordinary residence, choice of law issues will have to be addressed from a conflict of laws perspective, since the jurisdictional criteria will no longer ensure the application of the appropriate lex causae. In this regard recognition of the functional diversification of jurisdictional and conflicts connecting factors is crucial: different principles and policies underlie the fields of jurisdiction and choice of law and this must be borne in mind when a connecting factor is selected. In view of the prominence of domicilium as a connecting factor, problem areas in regard to the interpretation and ascertainment of domicile, especially the domicile of choice, is investigated within the context of the Domicile Act 3 of 1992 and with a view to future reform. It is submitted that the subjective animus requirement for the acquisition of a domicile of choice remains uncertain and undefined. Since domicile constitutes such an important connecting factor in issues pertaining to private-law status, as well as other non-status matters, it is essential that it should be readily and easily ascertainable. In this regard certain concrete proposals for future reform are advanced. Ultimately the domicile of an individual should indicate the community to which he/she truly belongs: only then will domicile constitute a conflicts connecting factor which satisfies the demands of conflicts justice. / Private Law / LL. D. (Law)

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Hierdie studie handel oor die ontwikkeling van die "clean break"-beginsel met verwysing na die posisie daarvan in vergelykbare regstelsels. Dit toon aan hoedat maatskaplike omstandighede die samelewing se siening van die huwelik be"invloed het. Die hedendaagse samelewing is ten gunste van 'n "clean break" na egskeiding, sonder 'n voortdurende onderhoudsverpligting. Hierdie neiging beinvloed die finansiele posisie · van gades na egskeiding nadelig. Dit is 'n feit wat ook in regskringe al hoe meer erkenning geniet en daartoe aanleiding gegee het dat voortdurend gedebatteer word oor wyses waarop die finansiele posisie van vroue na egskeiding verbeter kan word. Daar word tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die siening van substansiele gelykheid 'n invloed behoort te he op die finansiele posisie van gades na egskeiding. Gesien teen die agtergrond van die fundamentele menseregte handves is 'n bemoeienis van regswee inderdaad geregverdig. / This study traces the development of the "clean break" principle as it has developed in comparable legal systems. It shows that changed socio-economic conditions influenced society's view of marriage. Modern society tends to follow a "clean break" after divorce, with no continuing maintenance obligations. This trend tends to influence the financial position of single parent families after divorce negatively. This fact has been recognised in legal circles and has led to a continuing debate on ways to improve the financial position of women after divorce. My study concludes that substantial equality as seen from a fundamental human rights position point of view, justifies legal involvement with regard to the financial position of spouses after divorce. / Private Law / LL. M.

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Die regsposisie van die deelgenote tot 'n de facto huwelik word krities ondersoek met inagneming van die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse regsposisie, oorsigtelike regsvergelyking, die morele argument, en die invloed van die Grondwet van Suid-Afrika. Die verskillende vorme van de facto huwelike in sy bree interpretasie word in oenskou geneem en die volgende verbindings word bespreek: saamwoonverhoudings; inheemsregtelike huwelike; huwelike voortspruitend uit godsdienstige tradisies; en homoseksuele huwelike. Dit word gevind dat die Suid-Afrikaanse regsposisie tans baie onbevredigend is. Sekere voorstelle vir wysigings word aan die hand gedoen, en daar word gewys op die unieke kenmerke van die Suid-Afrikaanse situasie wat in ag geneem moet word in die vorming van 'n nuwe benadering. Dit word bepleit dat die regslui die uitdaging moet aangryp en met innoverende denke 'n nuwe bestel vir die Suid-Afrikaanse reg moet skep wat buigbaar en soepel is, maar terselfdertyd regsekerheid bevorder. / The legal status of the parties to a de facto marriage is investigated, taking into consideration the present South African position, legal comparison, the moral argument, and the influence of the Constitution of South Africa. The different forms of the de facto marriage in its wide interpretation are reviewed and the following relationships are discussed: cohabitation relationships; customary marriages; marriages resulting from religious traditions; and homosexual relationships. It is found that the present South African legal position is very unsatisfactory. Several suggestions for amendments are made, and the unique characteristics of the South African situation to be taken into consideration in forming a new approach, are highlighted. It is pleaded that the legal profession accept the challenge to create, with innovation, a new system for South African law which will be flexible, but, will at the same time ensure certainty in law. / Private Law / LL. M.

LL.M. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Since parental authority in South African law is based on German customary law, and not on Roman law, it exists for the protection of the child. Various protective measures exist to ensure that this goal is reached, mainly in the form of judicial interference with parental authority. An example is the termination of parental authority, or some of its incidents, by means of a court order. This takes place either in terms of the common-law authority of the High Court, or in terms of certain statutory provisions. One of the statutory provisions in terms of which the children's court can terminate some of the incidents of parental authority, is the Child Care Act 74 of 1983. If the children's court is of the opinion that a child is in need of care, it can order that the child be returned to the custody of its parents, or that the child be placed in foster care, or in a children's home or school of industries. There is at present no mechanism in the Child Care Act for ensuring legal representation for children. The draft Children's Bill expands the possible orders that the children's court can make and further provides that a child is entitled to legal representation in children's court proceedings, if necessary at state expense. In New Zealand, families participate in decision-making regarding children in need of care by means of the family group conference. In Scotland, children in need of compulsory measures of supervision are dealt with by a lay tribunal known as the children's hearing. The global movement to recognise and protect both the welfare and autonomy rights of children formed the basis of international-law protection of children, and the children's clause contained in section 28 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996. In order to ensure that the protective goal of child law is reached, I propose that a multidisciplinary lay tribunal be instituted in South Africa to deal with children in need of care, and that legal representation for children in children's court proceedings be made compulsory in certain circumstances. / Private Law / LL. D.

Because women are predominantly responsible for childcare, men are the primary income earners. Having acquired the marital assets, on divorce the husband would retain them in a marriage out of community of property. The wife would be left deskilled, financially dependent, with little likelihood of receiving spousal maintenance and with no marital assets. In 1984 the Matrimonial Property Act and in 1988 the Matrimonial Property Law Amendment Act introduced a judicial discretion to equitably redistribute marital assets in certain marriages out of community. This dissertation argues that the bases for the limitation of the judicial discretion to women married before a certain date are unsound and that the limitation arguably violates the equality clause of the Constitution. / Law / LL.M.

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Different methods of calculation of the loss of support of minor children, are investigated. According to one method (A), one first has to establish that the deceased's income was not all absorbed for his/her own maintenance. Only if there is surplus income available, it can be inferred that the deceased contributed towards the maintenance of the minor children and that the children have suffered a loss. According to another method (B) both parents' income are added and then divided between the family members. The minor child's loss of support is an amount which represent his/her share in the deceased's own income - a child automatically suffers a loss according to this method, in the event of death of a parent. Method B ought to be applied, because it is consistent with the reciprocal duty of support between spouses and the duty of spouses to maintain children. / Verskillende metodes om die verlies aan onderhoud van afhanklike kinders te bereken word ondersoek. Volgens een benadering (A) moet eers vasgestel word of die oorledene se inkomste nie alles geabsorbeer is vir sy /haar eie onderhoud nie. Slegs indien daar surplusinkomste was, kan aanvaar word dat die oorledene bygedra het tot die onderhoud van die minderjarige kinders en dat die kinders 'n verlies ly. Volgens die ander benadering (B) word beide ouers se inkomste bymekaar getel en dan tussen die gesinslede verdeel. Elke minderjarige kind se verlies aan onderhoud is 'n bedrag wat sy/haar aandeel in die oorlede ouer se afsonderlike inkomste verteenwoordig - 'n kind ly outomaties volgens hierdie metode 'n verlies. Metode B behoort meestal aanwending te vind, aangesien dit in ooreenstemming is met die wederkerige onderhoudsplig tussen gades en die plig van ouers om hul kinders te onderhou. / Private Law / LL. M. (Law)

Since parental authority in South African law is based on German customary law, and not on Roman law, it exists for the protection of the child. Various protective measures exist to ensure that this goal is reached, mainly in the form of judicial interference with parental authority. An example is the termination of parental authority, or some of its incidents, by means of a court order. This takes place either in terms of the common-law authority of the High Court, or in terms of certain statutory provisions. One of the statutory provisions in terms of which the children's court can terminate some of the incidents of parental authority, is the Child Care Act 74 of 1983. If the children's court is of the opinion that a child is in need of care, it can order that the child be returned to the custody of its parents, or that the child be placed in foster care, or in a children's home or school of industries. There is at present no mechanism in the Child Care Act for ensuring legal representation for children. The draft Children's Bill expands the possible orders that the children's court can make and further provides that a child is entitled to legal representation in children's court proceedings, if necessary at state expense. In New Zealand, families participate in decision-making regarding children in need of care by means of the family group conference. In Scotland, children in need of compulsory measures of supervision are dealt with by a lay tribunal known as the children's hearing. The global movement to recognise and protect both the welfare and autonomy rights of children formed the basis of international-law protection of children, and the children's clause contained in section 28 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996. In order to ensure that the protective goal of child law is reached, I propose that a multidisciplinary lay tribunal be instituted in South Africa to deal with children in need of care, and that legal representation for children in children's court proceedings be made compulsory in certain circumstances. / Private Law / LL. D.

Because women are predominantly responsible for childcare, men are the primary income earners. Having acquired the marital assets, on divorce the husband would retain them in a marriage out of community of property. The wife would be left deskilled, financially dependent, with little likelihood of receiving spousal maintenance and with no marital assets. In 1984 the Matrimonial Property Act and in 1988 the Matrimonial Property Law Amendment Act introduced a judicial discretion to equitably redistribute marital assets in certain marriages out of community. This dissertation argues that the bases for the limitation of the judicial discretion to women married before a certain date are unsound and that the limitation arguably violates the equality clause of the Constitution. / Law / LL.M.

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Different methods of calculation of the loss of support of minor children, are investigated. According to one method (A), one first has to establish that the deceased's income was not all absorbed for his/her own maintenance. Only if there is surplus income available, it can be inferred that the deceased contributed towards the maintenance of the minor children and that the children have suffered a loss. According to another method (B) both parents' income are added and then divided between the family members. The minor child's loss of support is an amount which represent his/her share in the deceased's own income - a child automatically suffers a loss according to this method, in the event of death of a parent. Method B ought to be applied, because it is consistent with the reciprocal duty of support between spouses and the duty of spouses to maintain children. / Verskillende metodes om die verlies aan onderhoud van afhanklike kinders te bereken word ondersoek. Volgens een benadering (A) moet eers vasgestel word of die oorledene se inkomste nie alles geabsorbeer is vir sy /haar eie onderhoud nie. Slegs indien daar surplusinkomste was, kan aanvaar word dat die oorledene bygedra het tot die onderhoud van die minderjarige kinders en dat die kinders 'n verlies ly. Volgens die ander benadering (B) word beide ouers se inkomste bymekaar getel en dan tussen die gesinslede verdeel. Elke minderjarige kind se verlies aan onderhoud is 'n bedrag wat sy/haar aandeel in die oorlede ouer se afsonderlike inkomste verteenwoordig - 'n kind ly outomaties volgens hierdie metode 'n verlies. Metode B behoort meestal aanwending te vind, aangesien dit in ooreenstemming is met die wederkerige onderhoudsplig tussen gades en die plig van ouers om hul kinders te onderhou. / Private Law / LL. M. (Law)