Read the latest legal news, updates and commentary from the offices of Simon Dippenaar & Associates.
Another look at coercive control and how to recognise it Recently, in Scotland a man was convicted of killing his wife, in a case seen as a significant legal milestone (HMA v. Lee Milne). As femicide is an all-too-common crime, why is this a landmark case? Because the woman in question took her own life, […]
Reclaiming your life after an abusive relationship Throughout 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, we’ve been looking at breaking free of an abusive relationship. It’s shocking how many women live with abuse, sometimes for decades. The problem is not unique to South Africa. It is global, oblivious to social class […]
Planning for the future after leaving an abusive relationship Key points: Establishing a support network: The role of friends, family, and domestic violence support organisations Safety precautions when confiding plans Using prepaid phones and alternative internet access to maintain secrecy Legal considerations: Prioritising legal aspects, such as obtaining protection orders and understanding custody rights Securing […]
Let 16 Days of Activism this year be the last you spend in an abusive relationship Abusive relationships take many forms. We have written about the dynamics of abusive relationships and the signs of abuse. Abuse may be physical, emotional/psychological (gaslighting, controlling you), sexual, financial (restricting your access to funds or your ability to work), […]
Know the signs of abuse and don’t be afraid to seek help Two years ago, in observance of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, we published a four-part series on leaving an abusive relationship. This year, 2025, in the wake of the recent national quiet protest by women marking the […]
16 Days of Activism – again As we begin another annual global 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, here in South Africa the outcry against gender-based violence and femicide has grown stronger, while our rates of GBV continue to rise inexorably. In advance of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, a […]
Introduction Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is one of the most pressing social and legal issues in South Africa. It affects people of all ages, genders, and communities. GBV is not only a violation of human rights but also a crime that undermines the principles of equality and dignity enshrined in the Constitution. At SD Law – […]
Reprinted from The Guardian, by Rachel Savage – 2025-06-13 Olorato Mongale, allegedly killed by man she went on date with, is latest victim of violence against women Yet again another South African woman has lost her life at the hands of a man, this time a date rather than a partner. Yet again we read […]
Domestic or intimate partner violence doesn’t always end on divorce We hear a lot about high-conflict divorce. We hear less about post-divorce violence, or post-separation abuse, to use the common nomenclature in the psychological literature. It does not differentiate between married and unmarried couples. Many family law experts believe describing a divorce as “high-conflict” often […]
Know your rights Weeks after the first Olympic Games in history to achieve gender parity and some stellar performances by women athletes in Paris, the world was shocked by the death of Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who was set alight by her boyfriend in Endebess, Kenya. Cheptegei is the fourth female athlete to be […]
The payments can be used for rent, study or household essentials to help them start new lives. Reprinted from Sky News, by Tamara Cohen – 2024-01-09 Regular readers will know that we like to keep abreast of legal developments around the world as well as here in South Africa. Often we find that South African […]
Understanding domestic violence and protection procedures Domestic violence is a pressing social issue in South Africa, affecting individuals and families across all communities. It does not discriminate according to educational status, economic standing, or social class. Defined as a pattern of abusive behaviours perpetrated by one against another, it encompasses various forms of abuse, including […]
