DIVORCE ACT 70 OF 1979 Page 1 of 12

DIVORCE ACT 70 OF 1979

[ASSENTED TO 8 JUNE 1979] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 1 JULY 1979]

(Afrikaans text signed by the Acting State President)

as amended by

Matrimonial Property Act 88 of 1984

Transfer of Powers and Duties of the State President Act 97 of 1986
Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act 24 of 1987
Marriage and Matrimonial Property Law Amendment Act 3 of 1988
Divorce Amendment Act 7 of 1989
Domicile Act 3 of 1992
Divorce Amendment Act 44 of 1992
Justice Laws Rationalisation Act 18 of 1996
Divorce Amendment Act 95 of 1996
Divorce Courts Amendment Act 65 of 1997
Judicial Matters Second Amendment Act 55 of 2003

also amended by

Magistrates' Courts Amendment Act 120 of 1993

[with effect from a date to be proclaimed - see PENDLEX ]
Jurisdiction of Regional Courts Amendment Act 31 of 2008
[with effect from a date to be proclaimed - see PENDLEX ]

ACT

To amend the law relating to divorce and to provide for incidental matters.
Cases

1 Definitions
Cases

[NB: A definition of 'Family Advocate' has been inserted and the definition of 'court'
has been substituted by s. 74 of the Magistrates' Courts Amendment Act 120 of 1993, a
provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See PENDLEX . The definition
of 'court' has subsequently been substituted by s. 10 (2) of the Jurisdiction of Regional
Courts Amendment Act 31 of 2008, a provision which will be put into operation by
proclamation. See PENDLEX . ]

(1) In this Act, unless inconsistent with the context-

'court' means any High Court as contemplated in section 166 of the Constitution of
the Republic of South Africa, 1996 ( Act 108 of 1996 ), or a divorce court established
under section 10 of the Administration Amendment Act, 1929 ( Act 9 of 1929 ), which
has jurisdiction with respect to a divorce action;
[Definition of 'court' substituted by s. 4 of Act 65 of 1997.]

'divorce action' means an action by which a decree of divorce or other relief in

connection therewith is applied for, and includes-
(a) an application pendente lite for an interdict or for the interim custody
of, or access to, a minor child of the marriage concerned or for the
payment of maintenance; or

(b) an application for a contribution towards the costs of such action or

to institute such action, or make such application, in forma pauperis ,
or for the substituted service of process in, or the edictal citation of a

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party to, such action or such application;

'pension fund' means a pension fund as defined in section 1 (1) of the Pension
Funds Act, 1956 ( Act 24 of 1956 ), irrespective of whether the provisions of that Act
apply to the pension fund or not;
[Definition of 'pension fund' added by s. 1 of Act 7 of 1989.]

'pension interest' , in relation to a party to a divorce action who-

(a) is a member of a pension fund (excluding a retirement annuity fund),
means the benefits to which that party as such a member would
have been entitled in terms of the rules of that fund if his
membership of the fund would have been terminated on the date of
the divorce on account of his resignation from his office;

(b) is a member of a retirement annuity fund which was bona fide

established for the purpose of providing life annuities for the
members of the fund, and which is a pension fund, means the total
amount of that party's contributions to the fund up to the date of the
divorce, together with a total amount of annual simple interest on
those contributions up to that date, calculated at the same rate as
the rate prescribed as at that date by the Minister of Justice in terms
of section 1 (2) of the Prescribed Rate of Interest Act, 1975 ( Act 55
of 1975 ), for the purposes of that Act;

[Definition of 'pension interest' added by s. 1 of Act 7 of 1989.]

'rules' , in relation to a pension fund, means rules as defined in section 1 (1) of the
Pension Funds Act, 1956.
[Definition of 'rules' added by s. 1 of Act 7 of 1989.]

(2) For the purposes of this Act a divorce action shall be deemed to be instituted on
the date on which the summons is issued or the notice of motion is filed or the notice is
delivered in terms of the rules of court, as the case may be.
2 Jurisdiction
Cases

(1) A court shall have jurisdiction in a divorce action if the parties are or either of the
parties is-
(a) domiciled in the area of jurisdiction of the court on the date on which
the action is instituted; or

(b) ordinarily resident in the area of jurisdiction of the court on the said
date and have or has been ordinarily resident in the Republic for a
period of not less than one year immediately prior to that date.

[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 6 (a) of Act 3 of 1992.]

(2) A court which has jurisdiction in terms of subsection (1) shall also have
jurisdiction in respect of a claim in reconvention or a counter-application in the divorce
action concerned.
[Sub-s. (2) amended by s. 6 (b) of Act 3 of 1992.]

(3) A court which has jurisdiction in terms of this section in a case where the parties
are or either of the parties is not domiciled in the Republic shall determine any issue in
accordance with the law which would have been applicable had the parties been

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domiciled in the area of jurisdiction of the court concerned on the date on which the
divorce action was instituted.
[Sub-s. (3) substituted by s. 6 (c) of Act 3 of 1992.]

(4) The provisions of this Act shall not derogate from the jurisdiction which a court
has in terms of any other law or the common law.
3 Dissolution of marriage and grounds of divorce
Cases

A marriage may be dissolved by a court by a decree of divorce and the only grounds
on which such a decree may be granted are-
(a) the irretrievable break-down of the marriage as contemplated in
section 4;

(b) the mental illness or the continuous unconsciousness, as

contemplated in section 5, of a party to the marriage.

4 Irretrievable break-down of marriage as ground of divorce

Cases

(1) A court may grant a decree of divorce on the ground of the irretrievable break-
down of a marriage if it is satisfied that the marriage relationship between the parties to
the marriage has reached such a state of disintegration that there is no reasonable
prospect of the restoration of a normal marriage relationship between them.

(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), and without excluding any facts or
circumstances which may be indicative of the irretrievable break-down of a marriage,
the court may accept evidence-
(a) that the parties have not lived together as husband and wife for a
continuous period of at least one year immediately prior to the date
of the institution of the divorce action;

(b) that the defendant has committed adultery and that the plaintiff finds
it irreconcilable with a continued marriage relationship; or

(c) that the defendant has in terms of a sentence of a court been

declared an habitual criminal and is undergoing imprisonment as a
result of such sentence,

as proof of the irretrievable break-down of a marriage.

(3) If it appears to the court that there is a reasonable possibility that the parties may
become reconciled through marriage counsel, treatment or reflection, the court may
postpone the proceedings in order that the parties may attempt a reconciliation.

(4) Where a divorce action which is not defended is postponed in terms of subsection
(3), the court may direct that the action be tried de novo , on the date of resumption
thereof, by any other judge of the court concerned.
5 Mental illness or continuous unconsciousness as grounds of divorce
Cases

(1) A court may grant a decree of divorce on the ground of the mental illness of the
defendant if it is satisfied-
(a) that the defendant in terms of the Mental Health Act, 1973 ( Act 18
of 1973 )-

(i) has been admitted as a patient to an institution in terms of a

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reception order;

(ii) is being detained as a State patient at an institution or other

place specified by the Minister of Correctional Services; or

[Para. (ii) amended by s. 4 of Act 18 of 1996.]

(iii) is being detained as a mentally ill convicted prisoner at an

institution;

[Sub-para. (iii) amended by s. 4 of Act 18 of 1996.]

and that he has, for a continuous period of at least two years immediately
prior to the institution of the divorce action, not been discharged
unconditionally as such a patient, State patient or mentally ill
prisoner; and

(b) after having heard the evidence of at least two psychiatrists, of whom
one shall have been appointed by the court, that the defendant is
mentally ill and that there is no reasonable prospect that he will be
cured of his mental illness.

(2) A court may grant a decree of divorce on the ground that the defendant is by
reason of a physical disorder in a state of continuous unconsciousness, if it is satisfied-
(a) that the defendant's unconsciousness has lasted for a continuous
period of at least six months immediately prior to the institution of
the divorce action; and

(b) after having heard the evidence of at least two medical practitioners,
of whom one shall be a neurologist or a neurosurgeon appointed by
the court, that there is no reasonable prospect that the defendant
will regain consciousness.

(3) The court may appoint a legal practitioner to represent the defendant at
proceedings under this section and order the plaintiff to pay the costs of such
representation.

(4) The court may make any order it may deem fit with regard to the furnishing of
security by the plaintiff in respect of any patrimonial benefits to which the defendant
may be entitled by reason of the dissolution of the marriage.

(5) For the purposes of this section the expressions 'institution', 'mental illness',
'patient', 'State patient' and 'reception order' shall bear the meaning assigned to them in
the Mental Health Act, 1973.
[S. 5 amended by s. 4 of Act 18 of 1996.]

5A Refusal to grant divorce

Cases

If it appears to a court in divorce proceedings that despite the granting of a decree of

divorce by the court the spouses or either one of them will, by reason of the prescripts
of their religion or the religion of either one of them, not be free to remarry unless the
marriage is also dissolved in accordance with such prescripts or unless a barrier to the
remarriage of the spouse concerned is removed, the court may refuse to grant a decree
of divorce unless the court is satisfied that the spouse within whose power it is to have
the marriage so dissolved or the said barrier so removed, has taken all the necessary
steps to have the marriage so dissolved or the barrier to the remarriage of the other
spouse removed or the court may make any other order that it finds just.
[S. 5A inserted by s. 1 of Act 95 of 1996.]

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6 Safeguarding of interests of dependent and minor children

Cases

(1) A decree of divorce shall not be granted until the court-

(a) is satisfied that the provisions made or contemplated with regard to
the welfare of any minor or dependent child of the marriage are
satisfactory or are the best that can be effected in the
circumstances; and

(b) if an enquiry is instituted by the Family Advocate in terms of section

4 (1) (a) or (2) (a) of the Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act,
1987, has considered the report and recommendations referred to in
the said section 4 (1).

[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 6 of Act 24 of 1987.]

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) the court may cause any investigation which it
may deem necessary, to be carried out and may order any person to appear before it
and may order the parties or any one of them to pay the costs of the investigation and
appearance.

(3) A court granting a decree of divorce may, in regard to the maintenance of a

dependent child of the marriage or the custody or guardianship of, or access to, a minor
child of the marriage, make any order which it may deem fit, and may in particular, if in
its opinion it would be in the interests of such minor child to do so, grant to either parent
the sole guardianship (which shall include the power to consent to the marriage of the
child) or the sole custody of the minor, and the court may order that, on the predecease
of the parent to whom the sole guardianship of the minor is granted, a person other than
the surviving parent shall be the guardian of the minor, either jointly with or to the
exclusion of the surviving parent.

(4) For the purposes of this section the court may appoint a legal practitioner to
represent a child at the proceedings and may order the parties or any one of them to
pay the costs of the representation.
7 Division of assets and maintenance of parties
Cases

(1) A court granting a decree of divorce may in accordance with a written agreement
between the parties make an order with regard to the division of the assets of the
parties or the payment of maintenance by the one party to the other.

(2) In the absence of an order made in terms of subsection (1) with regard to the
payment of maintenance by the one party to the other, the court may, having regard to
the existing or prospective means of each of the parties, their respective earning
capacities, financial needs and obligations, the age of each of the parties, the duration of
the marriage, the standard of living of the parties prior to the divorce, their conduct in
so far as it may be relevant to the break-down of the marriage, an order in terms of
subsection (3) and any other factor which in the opinion of the court should be taken
into account, make an order which the court finds just in respect of the payment of
maintenance by the one party to the other for any period until the death or remarriage
of the party in whose favour the order is given, whichever event may first occur.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 36 (a) of Act 88 of 1984.]

(3) A court granting a decree of divorce in respect of a marriage out of community of

property-
(a) entered into before the commencement of the Matrimonial Property
Act, 1984, in terms of an antenuptial contract by which community of

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property, community of profit and loss and accrual sharing in any form are
excluded; or

(b) entered into before the commencement of the Marriage and

Matrimonial Property Law Amendment Act, 1988, in terms of section
22 (6) of the Black Administration Act, 1927 ( Act 38 of 1927 ), as it
existed immediately prior to its repeal by the said Marriage and
Matrimonial Property Law Amendment Act, 1988,

may, subject to the provisions of subsections (4), (5) and (6), on application by one of
the parties to that marriage, in the absence of any agreement between them regarding
the division of their assets, order that such assets, or such part of the assets, of the
other party as the court may deem just be transferred to the first-mentioned party.
[Sub-s. (3) added by s. 36 (b) of Act 88 of 1984 and substituted by s. 2 (a) of Act 3 of
1988.]

(4) An order under subsection (3) shall not be granted unless the court is satisfied
that it is equitable and just by reason of the fact that the party in whose favour the
order is granted, contributed directly or indirectly to the maintenance or increase of the
estate of the other party during the subsistence of the marriage, either by the rendering
of services, or the saving of expenses which would have otherwise have been incurred,
or in any other manner.
[Sub-s. (4) added by s. 36 (b) of Act 88 of 1984.]

(5) In the determination of the assets or part of the assets to be transferred as

contemplated in subsection (3) the court shall, apart from any direct or indirect
contribution made by the party concerned to the maintenance or increase of the estate
of the other party as contemplated in subsection (4), also take into account-
(a) the existing means and obligations of the parties, including any
obligation that a husband to a marriage as contemplated in
subsection (3) (b) of this section may have in terms of section 22 (7)
of the Black Administration Act, 1927 ( Act 38 of 1927 );

(b) any donation made by one party to the other during the subsistence
of the marriage, or which is owing and enforceable in terms of the
antenuptial contract concerned;

(c) any order which the court grants under section 9 of this Act or under
any other law which affects the patrimonial position of the parties;
and

(d) any other factor which should in the opinion of the court be taken
into account.

[Sub-s. (5) added by s. 36 (b) of Act 88 of 1984 and substituted by s. 2 (b) of Act 3 of
1988.]

(6) A court granting an order under subsection (3) may, on application by the party
against whom the order is granted, order that satisfaction of the order be deferred on
such conditions, including conditions relating to the furnishing of security, the payment
of interest, the payment of instalments, and the delivery or transfer of specified assets,
as the court may deem just.
[Sub-s. (6) added by s. 36 (b) of Act 88 of 1984.]

(7) (a) In the determination of the patrimonial benefits to which the parties to any
divorce action may be entitled, the pension interest of a party shall, subject to
paragraphs (b) and (c) , be deemed to be part of his assets.

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(b) The amount so deemed to be part of a party's assets, shall be reduced by any
amount of his pension interest which, by virtue of paragraph (a) , in a previous divorce-
(i) was paid over or awarded to another party; or

(ii) for the purposes of an agreement contemplated in subsection (1),

was accounted in favour of another party.

(c) Paragraph (a) shall not apply to a divorce action in respect of a marriage out of
community of property entered into on or after 1 November 1984 in terms of an
antenuptial contract by which community of property, community of profit and loss and
the accrual system are excluded.
[Sub-s. (7) added by s. 2 of Act 7 of 1989.]

(8) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or of the rules of any pension
fund-
(a) the court granting a decree of divorce in respect of a member of such
a fund, may make an order that-

(i) any part of the pension interest of that member which, by virtue
of subsection (7), is due or assigned to the other party to the
divorce action concerned, shall be paid by that fund to that
other party when any pension benefits accrue in respect of that
member;

(ii) the registrar of the court in question forthwith notify the fund
concerned that an endorsement be made in the records of that
fund that that part of the pension interest concerned is so
payable to that other party and that the administrator of the
pension fund furnish proof of such endorsement to the
registrar, in writing, within one month of receipt of such
notification;

[Sub-para. (ii) substituted by s. 11 of Act 55 of 2003.]

(b) any law which applies in relation to the reduction, assignment,

transfer, cession, pledge, hypothecation or attachment of the
pension benefits, or any right in respect thereof, in that fund, shall
apply mutatis mutandis with regard to the right of that other party in
respect of that part of the pension interest concerned.

[Sub-s. (8) added by s. 2 of Act 7 of 1989.]

(9) When a court grants a decree of divorce in respect of a marriage the patrimonial
consequences of which are according to the rules of the South African private
international law governed by the law of a foreign state, the court shall have the same
power as a competent court of the foreign state concerned would have had at that time
to order that assets be transferred from one spouse to the other spouse.
[Sub-s. (9) added by s. 1 of Act 44 of 1992.]

8 Rescission, suspension or variation of orders

Cases

(1) A maintenance order or an order in regard to the custody or guardianship of, or

access to, a child, made in terms of this Act, may at any time be rescinded or varied or,
in the case of a maintenance order or an order with regard to access to a child, be
suspended by a court if the court finds that there is sufficient reason therefor: Provided
that if an enquiry is instituted by the Family Advocate in terms of section 4 (1) (b) or (2)
(b) of the Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act, 1987, such an order with regard to

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the custody or guardianship of, or access to, a child shall not be rescinded or varied or,
in the case of an order with regard to access to a child, not be suspended before the
report and recommendations referred to in the said section 4 (1) have been considered
by the court.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 7 of Act 24 of 1987.]

(2) A court other than the court which made an order referred to in subsection (1)
may rescind, vary or suspend such order if the parties are domiciled in the area of
jurisdiction of such first-mentioned court or the applicant is domiciled in the area of
jurisdiction of such first-mentioned court and the respondent consents to the jurisdiction
of that court.

(3) The provisions of subsections (1) and (2) shall mutatis mutandis apply with
reference to any order referred to in subsection (1) given by a court in a divorce action
before the commencement of this Act.
9 Forfeiture of patrimonial benefits of marriage
Cases

(1) When a decree of divorce is granted on the ground of the irretrievable break-down
of a marriage the court may make an order that the patrimonial benefits of the marriage
be forfeited by one party in favour of the other, either wholly or in part, if the court,
having regard to the duration of the marriage, the circumstances which gave rise to the
break-down thereof and any substantial misconduct on the part of either of the parties,
is satisfied that, if the order for forfeiture is not made, the one party will in relation to
the other be unduly benefited.

(2) In the case of a decree of divorce granted on the ground of the mental illness or
continuous unconsciousness of the defendant, no order for the forfeiture of any
patrimonial benefits of the marriage shall be made against the defendant.
10 Costs
Cases

In a divorce action the court shall not be bound to make an order for costs in favour
of the successful party, but the court may, having regard to the means of the parties,
and their conduct in so far as it may be relevant, make such order as it considers just,
and the court may order that the costs of the proceedings be apportioned between the
parties.
11 Procedure
Cases

The procedure applicable with reference to a divorce action shall be the procedure
prescribed from time to time by rules of court.

[NB: A sub-s. (2) has been added, the existing section becoming sub-s. (1), by s. 74 of
the Magistrates' Courts Amendment Act 120 of 1993, a provision which will be put into
operation by proclamation. See PENDLEX . ]
12 Limitation of publication of particulars of divorce action

(1) Except for making known or publishing the names of the parties to a divorce
action, or that a divorce action between the parties is pending in a court of law, or the
judgment or order of the court, no person shall make known in public or publish for the
information of the public or any section of the public any particulars of a divorce action
or any information which comes to light in the course of such an action.

(2) The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply with reference to the publication

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of particulars or information-
(a) for the purposes of the administration of justice;

(b) in a bona fide law report which does not form part of any other
publication than a series of reports of the proceedings in courts of
law; or

(c) for the advancement of or use in a particular profession or science.

(3) The provisions of subsections (1) and (2) shall mutatis mutandis apply with
reference to proceedings relating to the enforcement or variation of any order made in
terms of this Act as well as in relation to any enquiry instituted by a Family Advocate in
terms of the Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act, 1987.
[Sub-s. (3) substituted by s. 8 of Act 24 of 1987.]

(4) Any person who in contravention of this section publishes any particulars or
information shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding
one thousand rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both
such fine and such imprisonment.
13 Recognition of certain foreign divorce orders

The validity of a divorce order or an order for the annulment of a marriage or for
judicial separation granted in a court of a foreign country or territory shall be recognized
by a court in the Republic if, on the date on which the order was granted, either party to
the marriage-
(a) was domiciled in the country or territory concerned, whether
according to South African law or according to the law of that country
or territory;

(b) was ordinarily resident in that country or territory; or

(c) was a national of that country or territory.

[S. 13 amended by ss. 46 and 47 of Act 97 of 1986 and substituted by s. 7 of Act 3 of

1992.]

14 Abolition of orders for restitution of conjugal rights and judicial

separation

It shall not be competent for a court to issue an order for the restitution of conjugal
rights or for judicial separation.
15 Application of Act
Cases

This Act shall not apply with reference to a divorce action or proceedings for the
restitution of conjugal rights or for judicial separation instituted before the
commencement of this Act.
16 Amends section 5 of the Matrimonial Affairs Act 37 of 1953 , as
follows:

paragraph (a) substitutes subsection (1); paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (2);
paragraph (c) substitutes subsection (3); and paragraph (d) substitutes subsection (6).
17 Amends section 72 of the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965

by substituting that part of subsection (1) which precedes paragraph (b) thereof.
18 Repeal of laws

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The laws mentioned in the Schedule are hereby repealed to the extent set out in the
third column of the Schedule.
19 Short title and commencement

This Act shall be called the Divorce Act, 1979, and shall come into operation on 1
July, 1979.

Schedule
[Schedule amended by s. 33 of Act 65 of 1996.]

No and year of law Short title Extent of repeal

Act 32 of 1935 Divorce Laws Amendment Act, 1935 The whole

Act 22 of 1939 Matrimonial Causes Jurisdiction Act, 1939 The whole

Act 17 of 1943 Matrimonial Causes Jurisdiction Amendment Act, The whole

1943

Act 35 of 1945 Matrimonial Causes Jurisdiction Act, 1945 The whole

Act 37 of 1953 Matrimonial Affairs Act, 1953 Sections 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10

Act 70 of 1968 General Law Amendment Act, 1968 Sections 21, 22 and 23

Act 42 of 1974 ...... ......

PENDLEX : Divorce Act 70 of 1979 after amendment by the Magistrates'

Courts Amendment Act 120 of 1993
Section 1 - definitions

'Family Advocate' means any Family Advocate appointed under section 2 (1) of the
Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act, 1987 ( Act 24 of 1987 );

'court' means the provincial or local division of the Supreme Court of South Africa, or
a family court established under section 2 (k) of the Lower Courts Act, 1944 ( Act 32 of
1944 ), which has jurisdiction with respect to a divorce action;
Section 11 (2)

Subject to the rules of court in relation to divorce actions, any divorce action which is
pending in the Supreme Court may at any stage of the proceedings be referred to a
family court established under section 2 (k) of the Lower Courts Act, 1944 ( Act 32 of
1944 ), having jurisdiction if the court may deem it desirable, and the court may, in
respect of such proceedings, make such order for costs as it may deem fit.

PENDLEX: Divorce Act 70 of 1979 after amendment by the Jurisdiction

of Regional Courts Amendment Act 31 of 2008
Section 1 - definition of 'court'

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'court' means any High Court as contemplated in section 166 of the Constitution of
the Republic of South Africa, 1996, or a court for a regional division contemplated in
section 29 (1B) of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944 ( Act 32 of 1944 ), which has
jurisdiction with respect to a divorce action;

DIVORCE AMENDMENT ACT 7 OF 1989

[ASSENTED TO 1 MARCH 1989] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 1 AUGUST 1989]

(English text signed by the acting State President)

ACT

To amend the Divorce Act, 1979, so as to provide that a party to a divorce

action may share in the pension interest of the other party; and to provide for
matters connected therewith.

1 Amends section 1 (1) of the Divorce Act 70 of 1979 by adding the definitions of
'pension fund', 'pension interest', and 'rules'.

2 Amends section 7 of the Divorce Act 70 of 1979 by adding subsections (7) and (8).
3 Short title and commencement

This Act shall be called the Divorce Amendment Act, 1989, and shall come into
operation on a date fixed by the State President by proclamation in the Gazette .

DIVORCE AMENDMENT ACT 44 OF 1992

[ASSENTED TO 7 APRIL 1992] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 15 APRIL 1992]

(English text signed by the State President)

ACT

To amend the Divorce Act, 1979, so as to confer certain powers upon a court in
the case where such court grants a decree of divorce in respect of a marriage
the patrimonial consequences of which are governed by the law of a foreign
state.

1 Amends section 7 of the Divorce Act 70 of 1979 by adding subsection (9).

2 Short title

This Act shall be called the Divorce Amendment Act, 1992.

DIVORCE AMENDMENT ACT 95 OF 1996

[ASSENTED TO 12 NOVEMBER 1996] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 22 NOVEMBER 1996]

(English text signed by the President)

ACT

To amend the Divorce Act, 1979, so as to empower a court to refuse to grant a

decree of divorce if it appears to the court that the spouses are bound by their
religion to effect a divorce in accordance with their religion before a decree of
divorce will have full effect; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

1 Inserts section 5A in the Divorce Act 70 of 1979 .

2 Short title

This Act shall be called the Divorce Amendment Act, 1996.

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