South Africa
Divorce Act, 1979
Act 70 of 1979
- Published in Government Gazette 6506 on 15 June 1979
- Assented to on 8 June 1979
- Commenced on 1 July 1979
- Note: See section 19
- [This is the version of this document from 22 October 2020.]
- [Amended by Matrimonial Property Act, 1984 (Act 88 of 1984) on 1 November 1984]
- [Amended by Transfer of Powers and Duties of the State President Act, 1986 (Act 97 of 1986) on 3 October 1986]
- [Amended by Marriage and Matrimonial Property Law Amendment Act, 1988 (Act 3 of 1988) on 2 December 1988]
- [Amended by Divorce Amendment Act, 1989 (Act 7 of 1989) on 1 August 1989]
- [Amended by Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act, 1987 (Act 24 of 1987) on 1 October 1990]
- [Amended by Divorce Amendment Act, 1992 (Act 44 of 1992) on 15 April 1992]
- [Amended by Domicile Act, 1992 (Act 3 of 1992) on 1 August 1992]
- [Amended by Divorce Amendment Act, 1996 (Act 95 of 1996) on 22 November 1996]
- [Amended by Justice Laws Rationalisation Act, 1996 (Act 18 of 1996) on 1 April 1997]
- [Amended by Divorce Courts Amendment Act, 1997 (Act 65 of 1997) on 6 April 1998]
- [Amended by Films and Publications Act, 1996 (Act 65 of 1996) on 1 June 1998]
- [Amended by Judicial Matters Second Amendment Act, 2003 (Act 55 of 2003) on 31 March 2005]
- [Amended by Jurisdiction of Regional Courts Amendment Act, 2008 (Act 31 of 2008) on 9 August 2010]
- [Amended by Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2020 (Act 12 of 2020) on 22 October 2020]
1. Definitions
2. Jurisdiction
3. Dissolution of marriage and grounds of divorce
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—4. Irretrievable break-down of marriage as ground of divorce
5. Mental illness or continuous unconsciousness as grounds of divorce
5A. Refusal to grant divorce
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.[section 5A inserted by section 1 of Act 95 of 1996]6. Safeguarding of interests of dependent and minor children
7. Division of assets and maintenance of parties
8. Rescission, suspension or variation of orders
9. Forfeiture of patrimonial benefits of marriage
10. Costs
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
The procedure applicable with reference to a divorce action shall be the procedure prescribed from time to time by rules of court.12. Limitation of publication of particulars of divorce action
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-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
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. Amendment of section 5 of Act 37 of 1953, as amended by section 2 of Act 13 of 1966
Section 5 of the Matrimonial Affairs Act, 1953, is hereby amended—17. Amendment of section 72 of Act 66 of 1965, as amended by section 7 of Act 54 of 1970
Section 72 of the Administration of Estates Act, 1965, is hereby amended by the substitution for that part of subsection (1) which precedes paragraph (b) thereof, of the following:"(1) The Master shall, subject to the provisions of subsection (3) and to any applicable provision of section 5 of the Matrimonial Affairs Act, 1953 (Act No. 37 of 1953), and section 4 of the Matrimonial Affairs Ordinance, 1955 (Ordinance No. 25 of 1955), of the territory, or any order of court made under any such provision or any provision of the Divorce Act, 1979, on the written application of any person—18. Repeal of laws
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.History of this document
22 October 2020 this version
Amended by
Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2020
09 August 2010
31 March 2005
01 June 1998
06 April 1998
01 April 1997
22 November 1996
Amended by
Divorce Amendment Act, 1996
Read this version
01 August 1992
Amended by
Domicile Act, 1992
Read this version
15 April 1992
Amended by
Divorce Amendment Act, 1992
Read this version
01 October 1990
01 August 1989
Amended by
Divorce Amendment Act, 1989
Read this version
02 December 1988
03 October 1986
01 November 1984
Amended by
Matrimonial Property Act, 1984
Read this version
01 July 1979
Commenced
Note: See section 19
15 June 1979
08 June 1979
Assented to
Cited documents 7
Legislation 7
Documents citing this one 195
Gazette 51
- South Africa Government Gazette Legal Notices A dated 2004-08-06 number 26623
- South Africa Government Gazette Legal Notices A dated 2006-12-15 number 29459
- South Africa Government Gazette Legal Notices A dated 2017-06-02 number 40880 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette Legal Notices A dated 2018-04-13 number 41569 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette Legal Notices A dated 2024-02-02 number 50061 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette Regulation Gazette dated 1982-12-24 number 8486
- South Africa Government Gazette Regulation Gazette dated 1998-11-09 number 19458
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1986-06-25 number 10306
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1992-03-11 number 13815
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1992-03-11 number 13817
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1992-04-15 number 13921
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1993-01-22 number 14533
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1993-11-12 number 132
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1996-02-02 number 16943
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1996-11-08 number 17560
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1996-11-22 number 17605
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1997-08-08 number 18166
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1997-11-21 number 18451
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1998-11-27 number 19513
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1998-12-02 number 19539
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 1999-11-24 number 20656
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2000-12-01 number 21817
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2000-12-13 number 21883
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2001-12-12 number 22923
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2004-03-31 number 26206
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2005-01-24 number 27188
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2007-07-13 number 30067
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2007-09-07 number 30270
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2008-11-05 number 31579
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2010-11-02 number 33726
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2011-01-21 number 33946
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2011-10-19 number 34692
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2011-12-14 number 34864
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2012-08-29 number 35637
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2012-10-31 number 35843
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2013-02-01 number 36122
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2013-11-06 number 37005
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2014-01-16 number 37237
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2014-01-27 number 37269
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2014-05-09 number 37623
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2015-08-28 number 39131
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2018-10-29 number 42005
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2020-04-03 number 43192 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2020-10-22 number 43831
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2020-12-11 number 43981 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2021-01-20 number 44083
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2021-05-04 number 44529
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2021-05-11 number 44557
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2021-06-18 number 44724 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2021-07-02 number 44799 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2021-10-08 number 45275 part 1
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