What are my rights as a Muslim Spouse in South Africa with regard to property and children? I want to divorce my spouse. Does South African Law protect my rights to property and children?

Muslim Marriages concluded in the traditional sense are not the same legally as a marriage concluded in terms of South African law. For example, in terms of the Marriage Act 25 of 1961. There have been cases dealing with this problem, a prominent one being Women’s Legal Centre Trust v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others (CCT 24/21) [2022] ZACC 23; 2022 (5) SA 323 (CC); 2023 (1) BCLR 80 (CC) (28 June 2022). However, despite a person being married in terms of Muslim Rites, you still have the protection of the South African laws. This article deals with your rights regarding property and minor children.

What are my property Rights?

Parties married in terms of Muslim Rites are deemed to be married out of Community of Property without the accrual regime. Basically, what this means is that each party owns his or her own property during and after the marriage. There will be no automatic sharing of assets after the marriage unless there is another legal basis, therefore.

Parental Rights (Child Custody/Guardianship)

There is no distinction between parents who were married in terms of Muslim Rites or South African Civil law when it comes to parental rights. However, if there is a dispute, the parents of a Muslim marriage will have to approach the Court after they divorce regarding custody and child maintenance. In a civil marriage, the divorce could deal with those issues.

How do I approach the Court to enforce my parental rights for contact with my child?

If you are a parent to a child, you may approach the Children’s Court or the High Court for assistance regarding your rights to your child. It does not matter that you were married in terms of Muslim Rites.

How do I approach the Court to claim child maintenance?

You may approach the Maintenance Court in the area where you work or reside to open a case for child maintenance. That would apply whether or not you are married in terms of Muslim Rites or not.

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Telelaw

What are my rights as a Muslim Spouse in South Africa with regard to property and children? I want to divorce my spouse. Does South African Law protect my rights to property and children?

Muslim Marriages concluded in the traditional sense are not the same legally as a marriage concluded in terms of South African law. For example, in terms of the Marriage Act 25 of 1961. There have been cases dealing with this problem, a prominent one being Women’s Legal Centre Trust v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others (CCT 24/21) [2022] ZACC 23; 2022 (5) SA 323 (CC); 2023 (1) BCLR 80 (CC) (28 June 2022). However, despite a person being married in terms of Muslim Rites, you still have the protection of the South African laws. This article deals with your rights regarding property and minor children.

What are my property Rights?

Parties married in terms of Muslim Rites are deemed to be married out of Community of Property without the accrual regime. Basically, what this means is that each party owns his or her own property during and after the marriage. There will be no automatic sharing of assets after the marriage unless there is another legal basis, therefore.

Parental Rights (Child Custody/Guardianship)

There is no distinction between parents who were married in terms of Muslim Rites or South African Civil law when it comes to parental rights. However, if there is a dispute, the parents of a Muslim marriage will have to approach the Court after they divorce regarding custody and child maintenance. In a civil marriage, the divorce could deal with those issues.

How do I approach the Court to enforce my parental rights for contact with my child?

If you are a parent to a child, you may approach the Children’s Court or the High Court for assistance regarding your rights to your child. It does not matter that you were married in terms of Muslim Rites.

How do I approach the Court to claim child maintenance?

You may approach the Maintenance Court in the area where you work or reside to open a case for child maintenance. That would apply whether or not you are married in terms of Muslim Rites or not.

Top tips and tricks from a Senior Family Law Advocate on claiming maintenance for a five-year-old child in Nelspruit.
Child Maintenance is the right of the child, and not that of the parent. It is also not a privilege granted to parents who must pay it. It is their duty to pay child maintenance and support their children. Once the child is self-supporting (being able to care for him or herself), the obligation falls away. This can happen when the child is 18, 20, or even 30. It all depends on the circumstances of the case.
Claiming child maintenance for your child in Nelspruit
Whether you claim child maintenance in Nelspruit, or any other city in South Africa, the procedures would be the same. There are however two (2) courts that can deal with child maintenance matters. That is a divorce court, in a divorce matter, and a Child Maintenance Court. For this article, we will focus on claiming maintenance in a Maintenance Court matter in Nelspruit.
The maintenance scenario – Nelspruit South Africa
In this article, we will deal with the following fictitious scenario, in a child maintenance matter:
The Child is seven years old and attends school in Nelspruit
The child is cared for by the mother who works in Nelspruit
The mother works and earns a Salary of R 10 000
The father sees the child every second weekend. He also lives and works in Nelspruit
The child’s monthly expenses are R 6000 – 00 which includes food, clothing, accommodation, education, travel etc.
The father earns a reasonable salary and can afford the R 20 000 – 00 per month
The mother claims R 4 000 – 00 maintenance as the father earns double her salary
What is the first step the mother must take in claiming child maintenance?
The first thing the mother must do is work out exactly what the child costs by item. She breaks down the minor child’s living expenses, starting from rent or accommodation to groceries to school fees etc. Once she has done that, she would need to determine what exactly does the minor child cost per month, seeing that she will be asking the father to contribute towards that. As best as possible, she needs to collect proof of expenses. This can be in the form of receipts.
How does she start the legal process?
The mother now needs to approach the maintenance court in the area where she lives or works to lodge a complaint for child maintenance. If she lives or works in Nelspruit, it would be the maintenance court in Nelspruit. She will complete a Form A wherein she will provide all the expenses for her and the minor child. She would also have to stipulate her income. Once she completed the form and submitted it to the maintenance court, she must then follow the next step.
What do you do while waiting for the maintenance court date?
While you wait to be informed of the court date by the Maintenance Court of Nelspruit, and up until the actual first court date, you need to ensure that you keep a record of all income and expenses for you and the child. This is very important as the court allocates maintenance based on recent income and expenses.
What happens at the first court appearance at the Nelspruit Maintenance Court?
Once you have been notified of the maintenance court date by the Nelspruit Maintenance Court, you need to ensure that you attend it. On that day, both you and the father of the child would appear before a maintenance officer. The maintenance officer would go through both your income and expenses as well as that of the father. If all the relevant information is not before the maintenance court, then the matter may be postponed in order for the parties to submit it.
The maintenance officer will try to settle the matter and have the parents come to an agreement regarding the amount of child maintenance to be paid. If they cannot come to an agreement regarding the child maintenance to be paid, the matter would have to proceed to a formal hearing or trial before a Magistrate.
How does the Maintenance Court hearing or trial work in Nelspruit?
Essentially, the maintenance court is called upon to make a fair ruling regarding what is a fair amount of child support that needs to be paid. For that to happen, the parents would have to give evidence in that regard. The mother would present to the court what the child costs, what she contributes and what she requires the other parent to pay. The Father would have a right to question the mother and to present evidence as to why he cannot afford the amount requested or why he feels it is an unfair amount. The mother can they also question him.
At the end of the day, the Nelspruit Maintenance Court would be able to properly determine what is a fair and adequate amount of child maintenance to pay after being presented will all relevant information. The Nelspruit Maintenance Court should play an active role in determining what is a fair amount of child maintenance the father should pay.
The above child maintenance application principles should apply to the following provinces and cities:
Eastern Cape:
Alice, Butterworth, East London, Graaff-Reinet, Grahamstown, King William’s Town, Mthatha
Port Elizabeth, Queenstown, Uitenhage, Zwelitsha
Free State:
Bethlehem. Bloemfontein, Jagersfontein, Kroonstad, Odendaalsrus, Parys, Phuthaditjhaba, Sasolburg, Virginia, Welkom
Gauteng:
Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Carletonville, Germiston, Johannesburg, Krugersdorp, Pretoria, Randburg, Randfontein, Roodepoort, Soweto, Springs, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging
KwaZulu-Natal:
Durban, Empangeni, Ladysmith, Newcastle, Pietermaritzburg, Pinetown, Ulundi, Umlazi
Limpopo:
Giyani, Lebowakgomo, Musina, Phalaborwa, Polokwane, Seshego, Sibasa, Thabazimbi
Mpumalanga:
Emalahleni, Nelspruit, Secunda, North West, Klerksdorp, Mahikeng, Mmabatho, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg, Northern Cape, Kimberley, Kuruman, Port Nolloth
Western Cape:
Bellville, Nelspruit, Constantia, George, Hopefield, Oudtshoorn, Paarl, Simon’s Town, Stellenbosch, Swellendam, Worcester

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Telelaw

Relocation with my minor child to Saudi Arabia, Mecca (Consent and Refusal) – Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf
The world is becoming a much smaller place, and technology plays a huge role. People are moving across the world for employment, love and happiness, something that was not the norm a few decades ago. There is no reason why you should remain in South Africa if you can find a better life for yourself and your family overseas. Moving overseas may provide you with the quality of life you want or the possibility of experiencing things you always wanted. The same applies to your child or children relocating with you.
Relocation of your minor child to Mecca, Saudi Arabia
If you are single and do not have any minor children, then moving around the world would not be too complicated. All you need to do is ensure that you have the necessary travel documentation and travel ticket (and spending money), and off you go. However, if you want to travel with your minor children (for example, ages three or four) or relocate to another country, things may not be that simple. Firstly, if there is another parent, and he or she has parental responsibilities and rights, then his or her consent is required. For example, let us say you live in Pretoria or Giyani, South Africa, and you want to relocate to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, you would require the other parent’s consent to leave South Africa with your minor child. This can cause challenges, especially if the staying parent (in South Africa) does not agree to the relocation.
What about Passport Consent to travel or relocate to Mecca, Saudi Arabia?
The same applies when it comes to your minor child applying for a South African passport to relocate to Saudi Arabia, or any country. Both parents who have parental responsibilities and rights of guardianship will have to consent to the minor child’s passport application as well. In this regard, both parents have to be at the Department of Home Affairs (or the relevant bank that also assists with passport application) when making the Application with the minor child. This can be challenging if you have a disinterested parent who does not want to cooperate with the passport application. As you will see later, legal action would need to be taken.
What are the steps to follow when I want to relocate to Mecca, Saudi Arabia with my minor child? There is another parent.
To simplify the process for relocation, the first step would be to receive the other parent’s consent in principle for the relocation and that he or she will co-operate in this regard. Once that has been resolved, the parent relocating would need to make the appointment for the minor child’s passport application as well as the application for the relevant VISA. Each country has different requirements; however, seeing that it is a relocation, you need to apply for the correct VISA. For that, you need the Passport. Once the visa and travel arrangements have been finalised, the parent remaining behind will sign a parental consent letter for the international travel. That letter can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website. Basically, the parent remaining behind would state that he or she gives consent for the minor child to leave the Republic of South Africa and travel and/or relocate to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
What can I do if the other parent does not want to consent to the minor child’s relocation to Mecca, Saudi Arabia?
If the parent remaining in South Africa does not want to consent to the minor child’s passport application and/or his or her relocation to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, then you would need to approach the Court. The Court, as upper guardian of the minor child, may order that the parent’s consent for the passport application and relocation be dispensed with. What this entails is submitting Court documents explaining why you want to relocate to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The other parent would also have an opportunity to give reasons why he or she objects. At the end of the process, the Court would determine what is in the minor child’s best interests. If it is in the minor child’s best interests to relocate to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Court would make it possible despite the issue of consent or refusal.
What is the first step I should take if the other parent does not want to consent to the minor child’s passport application and/or relocation to Mecca, Saudi Arabia?
If the other parent does not want to consent to the passport application and/or the relocation of the minor child to Mecca, Saudi Arabia – in that case, we suggest you approach an attorney or advocate (trust account) to assist you with the legal process. He or she would then contact the other parent explaining the reasons for the relocation and request the necessary consent. If the parent remaining in South Africa does still not agree to the passport application and/or to the relocation to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, then the attorney or advocate will proceed to take the matter to court. The legal route can be expensive. However, it is necessary to make the relocation of the minor child possible. You may also attend to the legal process yourself.
Getting legal assistance or help with your relocation application to Mecca, Saudi Arabia
If you require legal assistance or representation with relocating to Mecca, Saudi Arabia due to the other parent not cooperating or providing consent, then feel free to contact us for assistance. The Firm Advocate, Muhammad Abduroaf, deals with these types of matters.

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Telelaw