Contact or maintenance is for the benefit of the children. A common misunderstanding that must be addressed here is that it is unreasonable for either parent to refuse contact because the other parent has not paid maintenance, or for any parent to refuse to pay maintenance because of being refused contact. These are separate issues from one another and can be dealt with either through negotiation, mediation or, if there is no other alternative, by going to Court.Author: Murray Taylor
The Gumede Case That Overturned Customary Laws
For decades, women in pre-2000 customary marriages were denied ownership of family property, their contributions invisible in the eyes of the law. The Gumede case changed that. By declaring these old rules unconstitutional, the Constitutional Court ensured that wives like Mrs Elizabeth Gumede are recognised as equal owners of the homes and assets they helped build. This landmark ruling isn’t just legal precedent—it’s a victory for fairness, dignity, and the human heart at the centre of family law.
