Family Law

South Africa and the Hague Convention

By Jeremy Morley

Judge Belinda van Heerden expressed great concern at the ?dismal failure? of South Africa?s courts and its chief family advocate to act expeditiously and to secure the child?s prompt return, stating that proceedings "in the present case were anything but expeditious. Some three and a half years have elapsed from the time of the boy's wrongful retention in SA in December 2003. The boy has spent most of his young life in this country.?

Judge van Heerden also stated that, "The training of South African judicial officers in the principles and procedures underpinning the convention also appears to be less than that required by SA's obligations under the convention. It is to be hoped that these shortcomings will receive the prompt and proper attention of the relevant authorities."

Full post as published by International Family Law on June 06, 2007 (boomark / email).