Read the latest legal news, updates and commentary from the offices of Simon Dippenaar & Associates.
Largest analysis of its kind finds one in seven globally said they had experienced violence in the last year We know we have a problem with gender-based and domestic violence in South Africa, and we know it is a global phenomenon, as reports that have emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic have shown. But this study, […]
Family finds closure after 17 year battle to get justice for their slain daughter Reprinted from the Cape Argus, by Mwangi Githahu – 2022-01-17 Cape Town – A Pietermaritzburg family whose daughter was killed in 2005 say they have finally gained closure after two Western Cape High Court judges last week upheld the killer’s 15-year […]
As we currently observe 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, this article from the UK’s Guardian newspaper gives voice to the experience of a child raised in a home where domestic violence was a frequent and unwelcome guest. Although the author was not the direct victim of the abuse – […]
Nurses hesitant to vaccinate children without parental consent, saying ‘They’re way too young’ Although there are some who are unsure about whether or not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, data shows that vaccination against the disease reduces the risk of becoming seriously ill if one is infected. Furthermore, while the vaccine does not guarantee 100% […]
Hayi bo! Are we married or not? Most couples know if they are married. They have held a wedding and invited friends and family, often at great expense. Or they have taken two witnesses and visited their local Department of Home Affairs for a simple ceremony. There should be no uncertainty about the answer to […]
COVID-19 has set back gender equality by 25 years South Africa celebrates national Women’s Day on 9th August every year, not to be confused with International Women’s Day on 8th March. It’s interesting to note that the date of 8th March was chosen because it marks the day when women in Soviet Russia began protesting […]
What are the rights and responsibilities of unmarried mothers and fathers? We’ve written a lot about the rights…and responsibilities…of parents in the event of divorce. As divorce attorneys, you would expect this of us. But SD Law is not just a firm of divorce lawyers. We are family lawyers. And families come in all shapes […]
If you sign as a witness to a will, make sure you know these facts These are sad times. Almost every day we hear of the passing of someone well known from COVID-19. And there are many more people who have lost loved ones who don’t make the news. Although the vaccination programme is […]
If your matter is part of a broader cross-border divorce (foreign spouse, service abroad, children or assets overseas), start here: International Divorce in South Africa. Can I relocate overseas with my child and new partner? The thought of travelling anywhere right now is little more than wishful thinking, but the pandemic won’t last forever. Italy […]
See our guides: Antenuptial Contract South Africa Guide 2026 Divorce Property Division in South Africa (2026): Estates, Assets & Accrual A fair regime, but how is the accrual calculated? No one marries intending to divorce. We’re sure that Bill and Melinda Gates would never have imagined, 27 years ago when they tied the knot, that […]
“Silver splitters” – what are the issues for later-life divorce? The average age for divorce in South Africa is 41 for women and 45 for men. 44% of divorces happen between five and nine years of marriage. But there is a growing trend for couples to divorce later in life, personified in the high-profile divorce […]
You may have heard the shocking story of Sarah Everard, a London woman who went missing and was later found dead, a police officer arrested on suspicion of her murder. She was walking home from a friend’s house around 9.00 in the evening, an act that should be perfectly safe (in London, if not in […]
