What are the implications of Bwanya v The Master of the High Court for customary law?

by | Oct 14, 2023 | ACTA, ACTA 2023

What are the implications of Bwanya v The Master of the High Court for customary law?

Author Julia Sloth-Nielsen

ISSN: 1996-2088
Affiliations: BA LLB LLM LLD, Emeritus professor, University of the Western Cape and Professor, University of Huddersfield
Source: Acta Juridica, 2023, p. 127 – 151
https://doi.org/10.47348/ACTA/2023/a6

Abstract

This contribution examines the implications of Bwanya v The Master of the High Court for customary unions in South Africa. Bwanya ruled that the Intestate Succession Act and the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act were unconstitutional to the extent that they failed to include heterosexual life partners as beneficiaries falling within their remit, which violated their right to equality and to dignity. The extent to which life partners’ positions may henceforth be ameliorated by legislative reform is first examined against the backdrop of the Domestic Partnerships Bill of 2008, which did not muster support in Parliament. Thereafter, the article discusses what implications the recognition of life partnerships may hold for customary law unions. It is tentatively concluded that it may be that whilst customary unions may continue as a social practice, it may be questioned whether in future there is legal space for them to persist in their current form. Sesotho: Atekele ena e hlahloba ditlamorao tsa Bwanya v The Master of the High Court bakeng sa manyalo a setso Afrika Borwa. Bwanya o ile a diha kahlolo ka hore Intestate Succession Act le Maintenance of Surviving Spouse Act e ne e se molaong ho ya kamoo e ileng ya hloleha ho kenyeletsa balekane ba bong bo fapaneng ba phelang mmoho e le bajamafa ba welang boikarabelong ba bona, e leng se ileng sa hatakela tokelo ya bona ya tekano le seriti. Ho ya kamoo maemo a balekane ba phelang mmoho a ka matlafatswang ho ya pele ka ntjhafatso ya molao ho qala ho hlahlojwa ho itshetlehilwe ka Domestic Partnership Bill ya 2008, e ileng ya se fumane tshehetso ka Palamenteng. Kamora moo, atekele e ile ya tshohla hore ke ditlamorao dife tse ka bang teng tsa ho lemoha dilekane tsa ho phela mmoho bakeng sa manyalo a setso. Ho nkuwa qeto ka lesisitheho hore leha manyalo a setso a ka nna a tswela pele jwalo ka tlwaelo setjhabeng, ho ka nna ha ba le dipotso hore ebe nako e tlang ho na le sebaka sa ona molaong hore a nne a tswele pele ka tsela eo a ntseng a etsa nakong ya jwale.

Gender equality in customary marriages: Is the deregulation of customary marriages the solution?

by | Oct 14, 2023 | ACTA, ACTA 2023

Gender equality in customary marriages: Is the deregulation of customary marriages the solution?

Author Pieter Bakker

ISSN: 1996-2088
Affiliations: BLC LLB LLD (UP); Professor, University of South Africa
Source: Acta Juridica, 2023, p. 152 – 185
https://doi.org/10.47348/ACTA/2023/a7

Abstract

Although the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 (RCMA) contains provisions to ensure equality between the spouses in a customary marriage, the RCMA has serious deficiencies that are detrimental to the weaker party in customary marriages. To rectify the deficiencies in customary marriages and other relationships, the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) are conducting simultaneous investigations into South African marriage law. This article critically discusses the proposals of the SALRC and the DHA to determine whether the proposed legislation will address the current deficiencies in the RCMA. As an alternative to the proposals of the SALRC and the DHA, the deregulation of customary marriages is advanced as a solution to the inequitable position of spouses in customary marriages under the RCMA. isiNdebele: Nanyana umThetho wokwAmukela imiTjhado yesiNtu we-120 ka-1998 (Recognition of Customary Marriages Act (RCMA)) umumethe iindinyana zokuqinisekisa ukulingana phakathi kwabalingani emtjhadweni wesintu, i-RCMA inokutlhayela okukhulu okulimaza ihlangothi elibuthakathaka emitjhadweni yesintu. Ukulungisa ukutlhayela lokho emitjhadweni yesintu kanye nobunye ubudlelwano, iKomitjhini yokuBuyekezwa kwemiThetho yeSewula Africa (South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC)) kanye nomNyango wezangeKhaya (Department of Home Affairs (DHA)) benza iphenyo ngesikhathi sinye mayelana nomthetho wemitjhado weSewula Afrika. I-atikili le ihlathuthula kabanzi ngeemphakamiso ze-SALRC ne-DHA kobana kuthathwe isiqunto sokobana ingabe umthetho ohlongozwako uzokuqalana nokutlhayela kwagadesi okuku-RCMA. Njengenye indlela yeemphakamiso ze-SALRC ne- DHA, ukuqedwa kwemithetho yemitjhado yesintu kuthuthukiswe njengesisombululo sobujamo bokungalingani kwabalingani emitjhadweni yesintu ngaphasi kwe-RCMA.

The Reform of Customary Law of Succession Act in contemporary South Africa

by | Oct 14, 2023 | ACTA, ACTA 2023

The Reform of Customary Law of Succession Act in contemporary South Africa

Author Fatima Osman

ISSN: 1996-2088
Affiliations: Bus Sci LLB LLM PhD (UCT); Associate Professor, Department of Private Law, University of Cape Town
Source: Acta Juridica, 2023, p. 186 – 213
https://doi.org/10.47348/ACTA/2023/a8

Abstract

Historically, the customary law of intestate succession was a flexible system of law that prioritised the well-being of the family. The law was distorted during the colonial and apartheid eras to focus on the individual inheritance of property. In 2010, the South African legislature passed the Reform of Customary Law of Succession and Regulation of Related Matters Act 11 of 2009 – which applies the Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987 – to regulate the devolution of estates of individuals who live according to customary law and die intestate. This article examines whether the current framework adequately addresses the needs of contemporary South African society. It argues that the prioritisation of the nuclear family for inheritance may be out of sync with the myriad ways in which families are formed and that the Master of the High Court should be given a discretion in the distribution of an estate. This will undoubtedly result in uncertainty but may ameliorate some of the shortcomings of a fixed, rules-based system of inheritance that does not reflect contemporary society. Tshivenḓa: Ḓivhanizwakale, mulayo wa mbingano ya tshirema wa uri muthu a lovha ndaka yawe i ḓo kovhiwa vhukati ha mufumakadzi, vhana, vhabebi na vharathu wo vha u sisiṱeme ya vhutepe ya mulayo une wa vhea phanḓa mutakalo na mvelaphanḓa ya muṱa. Mulayo wo khakhiswa nga tshifhinga tsha koloni na tsha khethululo u itela u sedzesa kha vhuḽaifa ha ndaka ha muthu muthihi. Nga 2010, vhusimamilayo ha Afurika Tshipembe ho phasisa Mulayo wa Khakhululo ya Mulayo wa Mbingano ya Tshirema wa Vhuḽaifa na Ndaulo ya Mafhungo a re na Vhushaka nazwo wa 11 wa 2009 – une wa shumisa Mulayo wa u Kovha Ndaka Vhukati ha Vhaḽaifa wa 81 wa 1987 – u laula u fhiriselwa ha ndaka ya vhathu vho lovhaho vhane vha tshila u ya nga mulayo wa mbingano ya tshirema vha lovha vha so ngo sia wiḽi. Athikili iyi i ṱola arali muhanga wa musalauno u tshi dzudzanya zwavhuḓi ṱhoḓea dza tshitshavha tsha MaAfurika Tshipembe tsha musalauno. U ṱaṱa uri u vhewa phanḓa ha tshigwada tsha muṱa u itela u vhuḽaifa a zwi tsha tendelana na nḓila dzine zwigwada zwa miṱa zwa vhumbwa ngayo na uri Ṱhoho ya Khothe ya Nṱha u fanela u ṋewa maanḓa a u dzhia tsheo kha u kovha ndaka ya mufu. Izwi zwi hu si na u timatima zwi ḓo ḓisa u sa vha na vhuṱanzi fhedzi zwi nga ḓisa u fushea kha zwiṅwe zwa vhukolikoli ha sisiṱeme yo vhewaho, yo ḓisendekaho kha milayo ya vhuḽaifa vhune ha si bvisele khagala tshitshavha tsha musalauno.

The right of children born to undocumented migrants to have their best interests given paramount importance: Reimagining the South African birth registration process

by | Oct 14, 2023 | ACTA, ACTA 2023

The right of children born to undocumented migrants to have their best interests given paramount importance: Reimagining the South African birth registration process

Authors Rowan Fortuin & Salona Lutchman

ISSN: 1996-2088
Affiliations: LLB (UCT) LLM (UCT); LLB (UKZN) LLM (New York); Senior Lecturer, University of Cape Town
Source: Acta Juridica, 2023, p. 214 – 239
https://doi.org/10.47348/ACTA/2023/a9

Abstract

This article analyses the birth registration process of children born in South Africa to undocumented migrants. Birth registration is an important stepping-stone to acquiring nationality in terms of South African law. Children born to undocumented migrants face a greater risk of statelessness. Given the detrimental consequences of statelessness, the article explores the relationship between the best interests of the child principle (found in international law and the South African Constitution) and the domestic birth registration process for children born to undocumented migrants. In terms of international law, all children have a right to be registered at birth. The findings show that despite this obligation, the birth registration process imposes an onerous set of requirements on undocumented migrants. By using the best interests of the child principle as a substantive right, a procedural right and an interpretative principle, the article shows that the current birth registration process places an inordinate reliance on documentary evidence, which can frustrate the registration of the child’s birth. The article concludes with recommendations which reimagine a birth registration process for children born to undocumented migrants. siSwati: Le-athikili ihlatiya inchubo yekubhaliswa kwekutalwa kwebantfwana labatalelwe eNingizimu Afrika batalwa bantfu labachamuka kulamanye emave labangenato tincwadzi tekutalwa. Kubhaliswa kwekutalwa kusinyatselo lesibalulekile sekutfola buve ngekwemtsetfo waseNingizimu Afrika. Bantfwana labatalwa bantfu labachamuka kulamanye emave babhekene nengoti lenkhulu yekungayindzawo nemphilo. Uma kubukwa imiphumela lelimatako yekungayindzawo nemphilo, le-athikili ihlola kuhlobana lokukhona phakatsi kwenzuzo lencono kakhulu yemgomosisekelo wemntfwana (lotfolakala kumtsetfo wemave kanye nakuMtsetfosisekelo waseNingizimu Afrika) kanye nenchubo yekubhaliswa kwekutalwa kwasekhaya kwebantfwana labatalwa bantfu labachamuka kulamanye emave labangenato tincwadzi tekutalwa. Ngekwemtsetfo wemave, bonkhe bantfwana banelilungelo lekubhaliswa mhla batalwa. Lokutfolakele kukhombisa kutsi nangetulu kwalesibopho, inchubo yekubhaliswa kwekutalwa ibeka luhla lolumatima lwetidzingo kubantfu labachamuka kulamanye emave labangenato tincwadzi tekutalwa. Ngekusebentisa kuzuza lokuhle kwemgomosisekelo njengelilungelo lemuntfu ngekwemtsetfo, lilungelo lenchubo kanye nemgosisekelo wekuhumusha, le-athikili ikhombisa kutsi inchubo lekhona yekubhalisa kutalwa incike kakhulu tikwebufakazi lobubhaliwe, lokungaphazamisa kubhaliswa kwekutalwa kwemntfwana. Le-athikili iphetsa ngetincomo leticabanga kabusha ngenchubo yekubhaliswa kwebantfwana labatalwa bantfu labachamuka kulamanye emave labangenato tincwadzi tekutalwa.

The decision-making power of adolescents to refuse medical treatment in South Africa: Lessons from other jurisdictions

by | Oct 14, 2023 | ACTA, ACTA 2023

The decision-making power of adolescents to refuse medical treatment in South Africa: Lessons from other jurisdictions

Author Ebenezer Durojaye

ISSN: 1996-2088
Affiliations: LLB (Lagos), (LLM, LLD, Free State) Head, Socio-Economic Rights Project, Dullah Omar Institute, University of the Western Cape
Source: Acta Juridica, 2023, p. 240 – 269
https://doi.org/10.47348/ACTA/2023/a10

Abstract

This paper discusses a controversial issue in relation to the capability of adolescents to refuse life-saving medical treatment. First, it examines the concept of autonomy and the normative framework for the recognition of the right of the child to consent to and refuse medical treatment under international law. Second, it discusses the provisions of South African law on this issue. The paper then draws on the experiences of the courts in the United States of America (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) to highlight good practices and to identify the gaps in the approaches adopted. Using Nedelsky’s relational autonomy as a guide, it concludes by arguing that, in all cases, the need for a dialogue between the child and their parents or guardians is important in helping the child to make an informed decision. Such a dialogue should not be viewed as an unnecessary intrusion into the autonomy of the child, but rather as a way to support the decision-making abilities of the child. isiZulu: Leli phepha lidingida udaba okuphikisanwa ngalo maqondana namandla abantu abasha abangaphansi kweminyaka eyishumi nesishiyagalolunye okwenqaba ukwelashwa ngezindlela ezisindisa impilo. Okokuqala, lihlola isihloko sokuzimela kanye nohlaka lwenqubo lokwazisa amalungelo engane okuvuma kanye nokwenqaba ukwelashwa ngokwezempilo ngaphansi komthetho wamazwe ngamazwe. Okwesibili, lidingida izinhlinzeko zomthetho waseNingizimu Afrika ngalolu daba. Leli phepha libe selisusela imininingo kulokho okwenzeke ezinkantolo zase- United States of America (e-US) kanye nase-United Kingdom (e- UK) kugqanyiswa izinqubo ezilungile futhi kuhlonzwe amagebe ezindleleni ezisetshenzisiwe. Ngokusebenzisa i-Nedelsky’s relational autonomy njengomhlahlandlela, liphetha ngokuveza ukuthi, kuzo zonke izigameko, kubalulekile ukuba kube nengxoxo phakathi kwengane nabazali noma abanakekeli bayo ukuze kusizwe ingane ithathe isinqumo esicatshangisisiwe. Leyo ngxoxo akumele ithathwe njengokuphazamisa okungenasidingo ekuzimeleni kwengane, kodwa kunalokho kumele ithathwe njengendlela yokusekela ukuthatha isinqumo sengane.