Issued by: The Department of Justice
It is hereby announced that the Divorce Courts Amendment Act, 1997 (Act 65 of 1997) came into operation with effect from 6 April 1998.
This Act makes provision for a divorce procedure which is uncomplicated and affordable and legal representation is not required.
The Act makes divorce courts, which were previously only accessible to a particular population group, now open to all population groups throughout the Republic. Any person now has the choice to either approach the High Court or the divorce courts in order to obtain a divorce.
Through the commencement of this Act, which is now applicable in the whole of the Republic, the laws relating to divorce are now uniform.
ISSUED BY THE CHIEF DIRECTORATE: COMMUNICATION SERVICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
16 APRIL 1998 PRETORIA
ENQUIRIES: AMANDA HAASBROEK TEL/CELL: (012) 323 9302 X 2184/082 460 7922 VIVIA JACOBS (012) 323 9302 X 2185/082 460 4148