Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse that’s seen in abusive relationships. It’s the act of manipulating a person by forcing them to question their thoughts, memories, and the events occurring around them. A victim of gaslighting can be pushed so far that they question their own sanity. Gaslighting
A universal partnership is an express or tacit agreement between two people, including same-sex couples, who choose to live together in a permanent relationship without entering into marriage. South African courts have over the years defined a permanent universal partnership as an arrangement between parties who act like partners
Marriage status You must ensure that you are legally able to marry. Either of you must be over the age of 18, or if younger must have written consent from your parent or guardian. If one was previously married, divorce proceedings must have been finalised and the divorce officially
In terms of section 28 of the Children’s Act a court can grant an order suspending any or all of a person’s parental responsibilities and rights for a period; can completely terminate any or all parental responsibilities and rights; and can grant an order that circumscribes or limits parental
The SAPS has certain obligations to victims of domestic violence. Besides their legal duty to assist victims to take steps to protect themselves in terms of the Act, the police must: On receipt of a domestic violence complaint, wide-ranging duties are imposed on both the station commander and the
The words “domestic violence” tend to conjure images of physical violence and abuse. In our highly connected world, abusers also can use technology against victims to monitor, threaten, harass, and hurt them. They may install spyware on victims’ phones and impersonate them on social media to humiliate them. Technology
In terms of South African Law, when a couple does not sign an antenuptial contract before getting married, the marital regime applicable to their marriage will be that of in community of property. This means that the couple will share equally in one joint estate, they are jointly and
When one thinks of abuse in a relationship, we typically focus on physical, emotional and verbal abuse. But financial abuse by a spouse or partner occurs in up to 99% of domestic violence cases. Financial abuse is a topic which is rarely spoken about. Because financial abuse is a
Coercive control is described as a pattern of controlling behaviours that create an unequal power dynamic in a relationship. In some instances coercive control can escalate into physical abuse. However, even if it does not escalate into physical abuse, coercive control is a form of emotional abuse that can
A Protection Order is an order issued by a court ordering a person with whom one has or has had a domestic relationship (the respondent), to stop the abuse. It’s a legal document that specifies the conditions that an abuser must adhere to, as specified by the courts. The
