Domestic Violence Act

Appropriate legislation to give effect to and reinforce the aforementioned international and national initiatives is of critical importance. It is clear that the law cannot be employed as a panacea for the ills of a complex social phenomenon such as domestic violence. However, when victims of domestic abuse do turn to the law for protection, the law should be effective and efficient in its response. Having regard to the Constitution of South Africa and the international commitments and obligations of the State towards ending violence against women and children, victims of domestic violence should be afforded the maximum protection by ensuring that the substance and procedures of domestic violence legislation are well tailored to the needs of those suffering abuse in a domestic context.

This document sets out the regulations that pertain to the Domestic Violence Act 116, passed into law in december 1998. The regulations set out the roles of those responsible for implementing the Act, and include forms relating to the Act.

The Domestic Violence Act provides for the issuing of Protection Orders with regard to domestic violence.

This study aimed to monitor similarities and differences in the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act (DVA) (no. 116 of 1998) in two different geographical settings in Gauteng, South Africa (Alberton and Temba court), and to compare these findings with data from the previous Prevention of Family Violence Act (PFVA) (no 133 of 1993).