The state has no legitimate interest in defining or imposing its views of what ‘marriage’ is on members of society – its only lawful concern (and accompanying duty) is to recognise and give legal protection to such relationships. South African marriage law under...

We Must Act Now to Protect Our Children from Harmful Content The Children’s Act is South Africa’s premier piece of child protection legislation. Its purpose includes giving “effect to certain rights of children as contained in the Constitution” and setting out...

(APRIL 2021)On 29 March 2021, the High Court declared that most parents who lose a child prior to birth, have a right to bury their baby’s bodily remains irrespective of the stage of foetal development.  This is a victory to be celebrated by all.  The court, however,...

(UPDATE - NOVEMBER 2020) On the morning of 1 July 2020, the National Council of Provinces adopted the Civil Union Amendment Bill (“the Bill”). The Bill proposes the removal of civil marriage officers’ right to conscientious objection. The right to conscientious...

A YEAR OF CHILD PROTECTION During the course of 2020 – despite the challenges of the Covid-19 lockdown regulations and restrictions – Cause for Justice (“CFJ”) continued to seek out and seize opportunities to promote child protection and prevent child exploitation. We...

A new legal challenge was instituted in the Johannesburg High Court in August 2017 in an attempt to legalise physician assisted suicide (PAS) and active voluntary euthanasia (PAE). In terms of current South African law, these acts are prohibited and are treated either...