Thesis (LLM )-- Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa entrenches the best interests of the
child as being of paramount importance in all matters concerning the child. This
commitment to the promotion of the welfare of children is not unique to modern
South African law, but is an acknowledged principle of the common law and
international child law as well. With such well-established recognition the question,
which forms the primary focus of this study, arises whether the principle of the best
interests of the child is workable and applicable in real life scenarios where the
custody of a child has to be decided. The challenge to the application of the principle
in this context is to reach a decision that will protect the parent-child relationship
regardless of the marital breakdown. The question is whether the principle allows for
and creates an honest awareness of and commitment to the welfare of children that
influence decisions in this context or whether courts and decision-makers merely pay
lip service to it in order to conceal the haphazard way in which custody is awarded.
In order to determine the workability and applicability of the principle, it is necessary
to know how the principle has evolved in the South African legal context. Through
the examination and analysis of existing literature, international conventions,
legislation and case law, a number of different perspectives on the developments in
the interpretation and application of the principle are provided. These perspectives
culminate in the useful and constructive insight and conclusion that the value of the
concept is dependant upon the correct approach to the principle and its characteristics.
The defining characteristic of the principle of the best interests of the child is its
inherent vagueness and indeterminacy. Though this subjects the principle to serious
criticism, this study supports the argument that indeterminacy is in fact essential. It
ensures not only the flexibility of the concept, rendering it applicable to the time,
cultural sphere and social context and unique circumstances of each case it is applied
to, but a holistic approach to the child as individual and family as a unit as well.
This holistic approach forms the foundation of the lists of criteria in McCall v McCall
1994 (3) SA 201 (C) and the Children's Bill, thereby establishing the workability and
value of the principle for fair and just results in all decisions pertaining to the custody
of children. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika verskans die beste belange van die
kind as van deurslaggewende belang in elke aangeleentheid rakende die kind. Die
verbintenis tot die bevordering van die belange van kinders is nie 'n verskynsel uniek
aan die moderne Suid-Afrikaanse reg nie, maar is 'n erkende beginsel in beide die
gemenereg en die internasionale kinderreg. Met hierdie wyd-verspreide en algemene
erkenning ontstaan die vraag, wat dan ook die primêre fokus van hierdie studie vorm,
of die beginsel van die beste belang van die kind werkbaar en toepaslik is in ware
lewensdramas waar 'n beslissing oor die bewaring van 'n kind gemaak moet word.
Die uitdaging vir die toepassing van die beginsels in hierdie konteks is om 'n besluit
te neem wat die voortbestaan van die ouer-kindverhouding ten spyte van die
verbrokkeling van die huwelik sal verseker. Die vraag is of die beginsel werklik 'n
eerlike bewussyn van en verbintenis tot die welstand van kinders skep wat die
besluitnemingsproses in hierdie konteks beïnvloed en lei en of howe en besluitnemers
bloot die regte lippetaal gebruik om die lukrake manier waarop besluite
geneem word te verbloem.
Om die werkbaarheid en toepasbaarheid van die beginsel te bepaal is dit nodig om die
proses van evolusie van die beginsel in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg onder oënskou te
neem. Deur die ondersoek en analise van bestaande literatuur, internationale
konvensies, wetgewing en hofuitsprake word 'n aantal perspektiewe op ontwikkelinge
in die interpretasie en toepassing van die beginsel voorgelê. Hierdie perspektiewe lei
tot die betekenisvolle en opbouende gevolgtrekking en insig dat die waarde van die
konsep afhang van 'n korrekte benadering tot die beginsel en sy kenmerke. Die
hoofkenmerk van die beste belange van die kind beginsel is die inherente vaagheid en
ondefinieerbaarheid daarvan. Hoewel dit die beginsel aan ernstige kritiek onderwerp,
ondersteun hierdie studie die argument dat die onbepaaldheid in der waarheid
noodsaaklik is. Dit verseker nie alleen buigsaamhied, wat toepassing op alle tye in
alle kulturele en sosiale omgewings en besondere omstandighede van 'n spesifieke
geval moontlik maak nie, maar ook dat 'n holistiese benadering tot die kind as
individue en die gesin as eenheid gevolg word. Hierdie holistiese benadering vorm die grondslag van die lyste van faktore in McCall v McCall 1994 (3) SA 201 (C) en die Wetsontwerp op Kinders 2003 waarmee die
werkbaarheid en waarde van die beginsel vir billike en regverdige resultate in alle
aangeleenthede rakende die bewaring van kinders verseker kan word.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/18091 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Basson, Lindinette |
| Contributors | Human, C. S., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Law. Dept. of Private Law. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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