In this study focus is placed on the Impact of the Namibian judiciary system on the sexually-abused child witness and recommendations were made to criminal justice professionals. A literature study was undertaken to establish a grounded theoretical perspective. A single case study was done to evaluate how the Gestalt Play Therapy Process can be applied to mitigate some of the negative effects the judicial system has on the child witness. An empirical study was done and a qualitative approach was utilised. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with children, their parents and criminal justice professionals. Major findings of this study are that the Namibian criminal justice system leads to further traumatization of the sexually-abused child witness and that the Gestalt Play Therapy approach can be applied to make the court proceedings less traumatic and even therapeutic for the child witness. Recommendations were formulated for criminal justice professionals / In hierdie verhandeling is gefokus op die impak van die Namibiese regstelsel op die seksueel-misbruikte kindergetuie en daar word aanbevelings gedoen aan professionele persone in die kriminele regstelsel. 'n Literatuurstudie is gedoen om 'n grondige toeretiese perspektief daar te stel. 'n Enkele gevallestudie is uitgevoer om te evalueer hoe die Gestalt Spelterapieproses toegepas kan word om die hofverrigtinge vir die kind minder traumaties te maak. 'n Empiriese studie is gedoen en 'n kwalitatiewe benadering is gebruik. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met kinders, hulle ouers en professionele persone wat met seksueel-misbruikte kindergetuies werk. In die studie is bevind dat die Namibiese regstelsel addisionele trauma veroorsaak vir die kindergetuie en dat die Getaltspelterapiebenadering gebruik kan word om die hofervaring minder traumaties en selfs terapeuties te kan maak vir die kindergetuie. Aanbevelings is gedoen aan professionele persone wat met kindergetuies werk. / Social work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Abduction / Adultery / Assault / Constitution / Defamation / Delict / Grounds of justification / Indigenous law / Intention / Legal maxims / Legal system / Legal values / Living law / Malicious damage to property / Negligence / Rape / Remedies / Seduction / Theft / Trespass / Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / In die studie word bepaal of die verskynsel wat algemeen as delik getipeer word, bekend is aan die inheemse reg en of daar na inheemse deliktereg in die gewone sin van die woord verwys kan word. Aangesien die lewende reg van 'n groep beinvloed kan word deur die mate van verwestersing wat plaasgevind het, is 'n mikrostudie in 'n semistedelike gebied gedoen ten einde te bepaal of eie waarde-oordele verplaas en vervang word wanneer daar van Westerse regsinstellings gebruik gemaak word. lnligting is ingesamel deur middel van gesprekvoering met 'n paneel van kundige mans en vrouens en is getoets aan beskikbare literatuur. Daar is gepoog om nie net die regsbeginsels te identifiseer en te omskryf nie, maar om ook kennis te neem van daardie kultuurinstellings en sosiale prosesse wat buite die reg funksioneer. Alhoewel dit moontlik is om die algemene beginsels van 'n delik te identifiseer asook die verskeie subjektiewe regte waarop inbreuk gemaak kan word, moet die eiesoortige aard daarvan deurentyd in gedagte gehou en verreken word teen die ongespesialiseerde aard van die inheemse reg. Daar is gevind dat die inheemse deliktereg van die bestudeerde groep duidelike tekens toon van aanpassings by nuwe omstandighede, maar tog met behoud van beproefde regsbeginsels en menslike waardes. / This study ascertains whether the phenomenon typified as indigenous law of delict is known to indigenous law and whether reference may be made to indigenous law of delict in the usual sense of the word. As the living law may be influenced by the measure of westernisation that took place, a micro study has been carried out in a semi-urban area in order to ascertain whether own value judgments are replaced or substituted when Western legal institutions are used. Information has been collected by way of interviews with a panel of knowledgeable men and women and controlled by reference to available literature. An attempt was made not only to identify and define legal principles, but also to take note of those cultural institutions and social processes functioning outside the law. Although it is possible to identify the general principles of delict as well as several subjective rights that may be infringed, the peculiar nature of delict must be borne in mind and set off against the unspecialised nature of indigenous law. The indigenous law of delict shows clear signs of adaptation to new circumstances, but there is evidence of the retention of proven legal principles and human values. / Private Law / L.L. D.

In this study focus is placed on the Impact of the Namibian judiciary system on the sexually-abused child witness and recommendations were made to criminal justice professionals. A literature study was undertaken to establish a grounded theoretical perspective. A single case study was done to evaluate how the Gestalt Play Therapy Process can be applied to mitigate some of the negative effects the judicial system has on the child witness. An empirical study was done and a qualitative approach was utilised. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with children, their parents and criminal justice professionals. Major findings of this study are that the Namibian criminal justice system leads to further traumatization of the sexually-abused child witness and that the Gestalt Play Therapy approach can be applied to make the court proceedings less traumatic and even therapeutic for the child witness. Recommendations were formulated for criminal justice professionals / In hierdie verhandeling is gefokus op die impak van die Namibiese regstelsel op die seksueel-misbruikte kindergetuie en daar word aanbevelings gedoen aan professionele persone in die kriminele regstelsel. 'n Literatuurstudie is gedoen om 'n grondige toeretiese perspektief daar te stel. 'n Enkele gevallestudie is uitgevoer om te evalueer hoe die Gestalt Spelterapieproses toegepas kan word om die hofverrigtinge vir die kind minder traumaties te maak. 'n Empiriese studie is gedoen en 'n kwalitatiewe benadering is gebruik. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met kinders, hulle ouers en professionele persone wat met seksueel-misbruikte kindergetuies werk. In die studie is bevind dat die Namibiese regstelsel addisionele trauma veroorsaak vir die kindergetuie en dat die Getaltspelterapiebenadering gebruik kan word om die hofervaring minder traumaties en selfs terapeuties te kan maak vir die kindergetuie. Aanbevelings is gedoen aan professionele persone wat met kindergetuies werk. / Social work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Abduction / Adultery / Assault / Constitution / Defamation / Delict / Grounds of justification / Indigenous law / Intention / Legal maxims / Legal system / Legal values / Living law / Malicious damage to property / Negligence / Rape / Remedies / Seduction / Theft / Trespass / Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / In die studie word bepaal of die verskynsel wat algemeen as delik getipeer word, bekend is aan die inheemse reg en of daar na inheemse deliktereg in die gewone sin van die woord verwys kan word. Aangesien die lewende reg van 'n groep beinvloed kan word deur die mate van verwestersing wat plaasgevind het, is 'n mikrostudie in 'n semistedelike gebied gedoen ten einde te bepaal of eie waarde-oordele verplaas en vervang word wanneer daar van Westerse regsinstellings gebruik gemaak word. lnligting is ingesamel deur middel van gesprekvoering met 'n paneel van kundige mans en vrouens en is getoets aan beskikbare literatuur. Daar is gepoog om nie net die regsbeginsels te identifiseer en te omskryf nie, maar om ook kennis te neem van daardie kultuurinstellings en sosiale prosesse wat buite die reg funksioneer. Alhoewel dit moontlik is om die algemene beginsels van 'n delik te identifiseer asook die verskeie subjektiewe regte waarop inbreuk gemaak kan word, moet die eiesoortige aard daarvan deurentyd in gedagte gehou en verreken word teen die ongespesialiseerde aard van die inheemse reg. Daar is gevind dat die inheemse deliktereg van die bestudeerde groep duidelike tekens toon van aanpassings by nuwe omstandighede, maar tog met behoud van beproefde regsbeginsels en menslike waardes. / This study ascertains whether the phenomenon typified as indigenous law of delict is known to indigenous law and whether reference may be made to indigenous law of delict in the usual sense of the word. As the living law may be influenced by the measure of westernisation that took place, a micro study has been carried out in a semi-urban area in order to ascertain whether own value judgments are replaced or substituted when Western legal institutions are used. Information has been collected by way of interviews with a panel of knowledgeable men and women and controlled by reference to available literature. An attempt was made not only to identify and define legal principles, but also to take note of those cultural institutions and social processes functioning outside the law. Although it is possible to identify the general principles of delict as well as several subjective rights that may be infringed, the peculiar nature of delict must be borne in mind and set off against the unspecialised nature of indigenous law. The indigenous law of delict shows clear signs of adaptation to new circumstances, but there is evidence of the retention of proven legal principles and human values. / Private Law / L.L. D.