Thesis (LLD (Private Law))--University of Stellenbosch, 1998. / 490 leaves double sided printed, preliminary pages and numbered pages 1-469. Includes bibliography. Digitised using a HP Scanjet 8250 Scanner to pdf format (OCR). / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis investigates the effect of the recognition of the rights of the child on the parent-child relationship in private law. Rights of the child seem, on the face of it, to undermine parental authority and family values. The impression is created that the state is abdicating its role as protector of the child in favour of unfettered freedom of the child. The delicate balance between individual freedom and family autonomy may in the result also be under threat. It was, therefore, necessary to extend the investigation to include the role of parents and that of the state. The study is divided into three parts. The first contains a theoretical analysis of the concept rights of the child. It is clear that the concept is a manifestation of fundamental human rights. The rights of the child are unique in nature and accommodate the changing phases of dependence and developing abilities of the child. Theoretical analysis negates the perception that the recognition of the rights of the child contributes to erosion of the family: the importance of the commitment of parents and of the state is apparent. The second part consists of a comprehensive review of the parent-child relationship in the South African private law, and an analysis of the public law dimension of the concept rights of the child. This part of the investigation demonstrates that parental authority is firmly rooted in legal history and that substantive private law does not recognise the child as bearer of rights within the context of the family. However, the Bill of Rights and the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child unequivocally give public law status to the child as bearer of rights. The study shows that the private and public law status of a child cannot be isolated from one another and that adaptations will have to be made to implement the rights of the child. In the third part of the study an attempt is made to identify the kind of adaptation that must be made. The impact of the idea of the rights of the child upon the parent-child relationship in private law is investigated. Australian and Scottish law are examples of legal systems which endeavour to implement fully the concept of the rights of the child. Indigenous law places a high value on human dignity. The interaction between rights and duties in indigenous systems reflect values which are inherent in the idea of the rights of the child. The study shows that the impact of the rights of the child on the parent-child relationship is such that change and adaptation of private law is necessary. Change and adaptation are required at both theoretical and practical level. A number of obstacles which may inhibit the process of change are identified. Finally, the kind of change and adaptation required is illustrated by a number of practical examples of the impact ofchange on the parent-child relationship. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word in hierdie proefskrif gepoog om te bepaal wat die effek van die erkenning van kinderregte op die ouer-kind verhouding in die privaatreg is. Kinderregte skep op die oog af die persepsie dat ouerlike gesag en gesinswaardes onderrnyn word en dat die staat sy rol as beskerrner van 'n kind abdikeer ten gunste van onbeperkte vryhede aan 'n kind. Die delikate balans tussen individuele vryhede en gesinsoutonomie is in gedrang en op hierdie wyse word die rol van ouers en die staat ook by die ondersoek betrek. Die studie behels 'n drieledige ondersoek. In die eerste plek vind 'n teoretiese ontleding van die begrip kinderregte plaas. Hierdie ondersoek toon aan dat kinderregte 'n verskyningsvorrn van fundamentele menseregte is. Kinderregte het 'n eiesoortige aard en akkommodeer die wisselende fases van afhanklikheid en ontwikkelende verrnoens van 'n kind. Die betrokkenheid van ouers en die staat word beklemtoon en die teoretiese uitgangspunt besweer gevolglik negatiewe persepsies dat die erkenning van kinderregte tot gesinsverbrokkeling sal meewerk. Die tweede deel van die ondersoek bestaan uit 'n volledige uiteensetting van die ouerkind verhouding in die Suid-Afrikaanse privaatreg en 'n ontleding van die publiekregtelike dimensie van die begrip kinderregte. Hierdie deel van die ondersoek bewys dat ouerlike gesag regshistories sterk fundeer is en dat die substantiewe privaatreg nie die kind as draer van regte binne gesinsverband erken nie. Daarteenoor verleen die Handves van Regte en die Verenigde Nasies se Konvensie op die Regte van die kind 1989 'n duidelike publiekregtelike status aan die kind as draer van regte. Die ondersoek toon aan dat die privaatregtelike en publiekregtelike status van 'n kind nie van mekaar gelsoleer kan word nie en dat aanpassings sal moet plaasvind ten einde kinderregte te implementeer. Die tipe aanpassings wat gemaak sal moet word, vloei voort uit die derde element van hierdie studie. Hierdie deeI van die studie behels 'n toepassing van die idee van kinderregte op die ouer-kind verhouding in die privaatreg. 'n Regsvergelykende element word betrek en die Australiese en Skotse reg word as modelle van 'n regstelsel voorgehou wat poog om kinderregte tot sy volle konsekwensies te implementeer. Vir doeleindes van interne regsvergelyking word daar ook na die inheemse reg verwys. Die hoe premie wat laasgenoemde regstelsel op menswaardigheid plaas en die wisselwerking tussen regte en verpligtinge verteenwoordig waardes wat eie aan die idee van kinderregte is. Die gevolgtrekking is dat die effek van kinderregte op die ouer-kind verhouding van sodanige omvang is dat aanpassings in die privaatreg sal moet plaasvind. Veranderings in regsdenke en formele aanpassings word vereis en 'n aantal struikelblokke wat deel van hierdie proses is, word uitgelig. Sekere praktiese implikasies vir die ouer-kind verhouding word ook voorgehou ten einde te illustreer wat die aard van die aanpassings is wat vereis word.

While several Australian and international studies have explored the family lawyer-client interaction, these studies have been limited to investigations of discrete areas of the lawyerclient relationship and have been necessarily limited in their methodologies. The present study employed a quantitative empirical methodology in an Australian wide field study of 230 family lawyers and 94 clients that investigated the family lawyer-client interaction from a procedural justice framework. Using multivariate analyses, the study establishes that the Tyler and Blader two-component model of procedural justice applies in the lawyer-client dyad and is influenced by the approach of the lawyer, the emotional response of the client, and the level of co-party conflict that the client is experiencing. Further, the study gives meaning to the terms 'conciliatory and constructive' and 'adversarial' as they apply to family law dispute resolution. The study establishes a construct to measure the conciliatory and adversarial approach of family lawyers and identifies that lawyers tend to incorporate a mixture of the two into their work. The results also identify four distinct behavioural factors that characterise the two approaches: the client-centred and interest-based factors characterise the conciliatory approach; and the lawyer-directed and court-focused factors characterise the adversarial. The study found that in terms of perceptions of fairness, and feelings of satisfaction, the clients preferred the lawyers who took a client-centred and interest-based approach, but in circumstances where the clients were experiencing high-levels of conflict, or fear for the safety of their children, they also appreciated the lawyer who was lawyer-directed and court-focused. Overall, the study shows that in order to create a fair and satisfying dispute resolution service for their clients, family lawyers need to maintain a fine balance of family lawyering behaviour. On a general level, the study provides a profile of Australian family lawyers in terms of their approach to dispute resolution, their attitude towards ADR processes and their favoured negotiation styles. It also profiles family law clients in terms of their emotional adjustment to the divorce and their perceptions of the family lawyers assisting them to resolve their disputes. The study substantially expands the procedural justice theory base and has significant implications for practical family law education, government policy, family lawyering, and the ADR and collaborative law movements. The study indicates where future research could benefit these communities.

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Religious and cultural discourses shape relationships/marriages. The constructed nature of relationships/marriages opens the possibility for alternative relational realities. Positioning relationships/marriages in alternative discourses assisted the couples to construct a preferred relationship narrative. Three couples embarked on this feminist participatory action research journey - a couple from the Jehovah's Witnesses tradition,' a couple from the Dutch Reformed Church and a couple from a Gay Refonned Church. Conversations with the participating couples deconstructed their relationships. It also enabled the couples to co-author alternative, preferred realities of their relationships/marriages and to provide rich descriptions of these. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

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.

Scholarship on the modern history of the Middle East has undergone profound revision in the previous three decades or so. Many earlier perceptions, largely based on modernization theory, have been either contested or modified. However, the perception of the Egyptian ulama (the traditionally-educated, religious Muslim scholars) in academic scholarship remains largely affected by the legacy of hypotheses of the modernization theory. Old assumptions that the Egyptian ulama were submissive to political power and passive players incapable of accommodating, let alone of fathoming, conditions of the modern world, and who chose or were forced to retreat from this world, losing much, if not all, of their relevance and significance, still infuse the scholarly literature. Making use of materials obtained from the Egyptian National Archives, this study offers an examination of modern legal reform in Egypt from the nineteenth century through the first part of the twentieth century with the ulama and their legal institutions in mind. As the findings of this study effectively illustrate, the Egyptian ulama were by no means submissive. Rather, they were patient. Far from being passive agents of the past, the Egyptian ulama were active participants who played a critical role in the building of modern Egypt. The ulama had at their disposal sustained social and moral influence, a long-standing position as community leaders, a reputation as defenders and representatives of Islam, the power to validate or invalidate the political establishment by means of public and doctrinal legitimization, and the final authority over laws of family and personal status. Through these strengths, the ulama were able to influence the direction of change and to impact its scope and nature during transitional period that witnessed the making and remaking of modern Egypt. Considering the nature of changes that they allowed to be introduced to the shari-based justice system and the ones they resisted, as well as their stance regarding social matters, the Egyptian ulama comprehended and recognized modernity as useful. Advanced techniques had to be embraced to strengthen state institutions. However, the ulama thwarted massive and sudden adoption of modernity's cultural elements, so that Egypt would not become a chaotic country and go astray. On the weight of their position as the ultimate authority over family law, the Egyptian ulama blocked rapid social change imposed from the top. Alterations to family law and the social structure were undertaken gradually and with a great deal of delicacy. Therefore, the long-standing social order was not suddenly destroyed and replaced with a new one. Instead, changes to the long-standing social structure were allowed to evolve slowly, while the core was largely preserved. The ulama's far-reaching plan, which was realized in the long run, was to maintain Islam's position in modern Egypt as a guide and as the main source of legitimacy. As will be shown in this study, the history of the Egyptian ulama reveals not passivity, detachment, or submission but careful, and deliberate action.

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

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