07/11/2026 Bertus Preller Appeal, Article 13(b) grave risk, Automatic Appeals under Section 18(4), Best Interests of the Child, Execution Pending Appeal, Hague Convention Age Limit (Article 4), Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, International Family Law, Protective Measures and Mirror Orders, Stay of execution, Views of the Child Article 13(b), Article 4 Hague Convention, Australia child abduction, best interests of the child, Central Authority South Africa, Chafin v Chafin, child over 16, Children's Act section 10, Children's Act section 7, exceptional circumstances, execution pending appeal, full bench, Hague Convention, Incubeta v Ellis, International Child Abduction, irreparable harm, Knoop v Gupta, Kusevitsky J dissent, Mirror Orders, Protective Measures, reportable judgment, return order, section 18 Superior Courts Act, section 18(4) automatic appeal, Supreme Court of Appeal Practice Directive 1/2024, Tyte Security Services, voice of the child, Western Cape High Court, Wille J A Hague Convention matter is not per se exceptional: when a return order must wait for the appeal. S C v L J H and Another (2026-105403) [2026] ZAWCHC 659 (6 November 2026). This case is about whether a High Court order directing the return of children to Australia under the Hague Convention may be put into operation under section 18(3) of the… READ MORE
15/01/2026 Bertus Preller 1996 Hague Convention, Abducting parent defences, Abduction, Article 3 Hague Convention, Best interests of child short-term, Best Interests of the Child, Children, Cross-border parental rights recognition, Curator Ad Litem, Custody, Dependency model habitual residence, Domicile, Grave risk psychological harm, Habitual Residence, Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, Inter-provincial custody, International child retention, Parental Alienation, Parental responsibility Italian law, Parental Rights, Relocation, Unmarried fathers, Unmarried Parents 1996 Hague Convention, acquiescence defence child abduction, Article 13 defences, Article 3 Hague Convention, best interests of child short-term, Central Authority South Africa, child custody Switzerland, cross-border parental rights recognition, curator ad litem appointment, custody rights unmarried fathers, dependency model habitual residence, family law international jurisdiction, Geneva habitual residence, grave risk psychological harm, habitual residence determination, Hague Convention child abduction, international child retention, international family law, Italian Civil Code Article 316, parental responsibility Italian law, parental rights operation of law, protective measures return orders, return order conditions, settled purpose intention residence, Swiss Civil Code parental rights, Swiss Federal Act Private International Law, unmarried parents custodial rights, wrongful removal children, wrongful retention South Africa Unmarried Parents’ Custodial Rights and Cross-Border Habitual Residence: Central Authority for the Republic of South Africa v MV and Another (1396/2024) [2025] ZASCA 197 (18 December 2025). Factual Background: From Geneva to Gauteng – The Retention of a Minor Child The factual matrix in this matter presents a textbook illustration of how international child retention disputes arise… READ MORE
08/11/2025 Bertus Preller Abducting parent defences, Article 13 defences, Article 13(a) consent, Article 13(b) grave risk, Habitual Residence, Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, Left-behind parent rights, Prompt return of child, Wrongful removal of child abducting parent defences, ancillary relief, Article 13 defences, Article 13(a) consent, Article 13(b) grave risk, Central Authority South Africa, child return application, Convention proceedings, curator ad litem, custody proceedings, Denmark child abduction, family law South Africa, grave risk threshold, habitual residence, Hague Convention, International Child Abduction, intolerable situation, jurisdictional issues, Koch case, left-behind parent rights, Mirror Orders, N M v Central Authority, Plascon-Evans rule, prompt return of child, Protective Measures, Sonderup v Tondelli, summary proceedings, two-stage process, wrongful removal of child When Midnight Departures Belie Consent: Article 13 Defences Fail in International Child Abduction Case – Central Authority of the Republic of South Africa and Another v L (2025-178969) [2025] ZAGPJHC 1101 (3 November 2025). Factual Matrix: A Mother's Contested Departure from Denmark to South Africa The dispute before Adams J in the Gauteng Division of the High Court centred on a six-year-old boy who… READ MORE