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.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4446 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Human, Cornelia Sophia |
| Contributors | De Waal, M. J., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Law. Dept. of Private Law. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | Afrikaans |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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