THE LAW ON TERMINATING YOUR ENGAGEMENT

To enter into an engagement, one must be 18 years of age or older. Minors need the consent of both parents (or guardians), unless certain circumstances are in place or a court order is granted.

Both parties must voluntarily, of their own free will, consent to the engagement. However, the following conditions can render a consensual engagement voidable:

Mistake

A material mistake as to the identity of the person you are getting engaged to will render the engagement void.

Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation occurs when, had the innocent party known the truth, he/she would not have become engaged to the other party. If the misrepresentation seriously endangers the likelihood of having a happy and harmonious marriage, the engagement will be regarded as void. It does not matter whether the misrepresentation was made innocently or fraudulently.

Misrepresentations that can render an engagement void include failing to reveal or concealing certain personal qualities, such as impotence, sterility, serious mental illness, and alcohol or drug addiction, where there is a duty to do so.

Misrepresentation is not only committed by positive false representation, but also by failure to correct an existing misconception. An engagement may also be annulled on the grounds of innocent misrepresentation; for example, where a man is coaxed into proposing to his girlfriend in the belief that she is pregnant.

Duress and undue influence

Undue influence is also grounds for terminating an engagement.

Lawfulness

Getting engaged to someone while married to someone else renders the engagement void, as it is against good morals. The unaware party may bring an action against the guilty party.

Terminating an engagement constitutes a breach of promise. Public policy considerations encourage our courts to recognise it as such and to act accordingly. A breach of promise may give rise to either of two distinct courses of action:

  1. The ‘innocent’ party may be entitled to sentimental damages if the repudiation was extremely rude and arrogant. This requires that the ‘guilty’ party, in putting an end to the engagement, acted purposely wrongfully (a delictual action). It does not matter whether or not the termination of the engagement was justified; what matters is the manner in which the engagement is brought to an end. The fact that the feelings of the innocent party were hurt or that he/she felt insulted or abandoned is not enough for a successful claim for delictual damages.
  1. An engagement may be cancelled without financial consequences if there is a just cause for the cancellation. Just cause is usually defined as any event, condition, or action of one party that jeopardises the chances of a long and happy marriage, and which would induce any right-minded member of society to withdraw from the engagement. Just cause can range from unfaithfulness to an unwillingness or lack of desire to marry.

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Author – Jessica Gooding

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