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Title_of_text

Domestic Violence Act (No. 116).

Main Region

First Region

South Africa
Human rights
1998-11-20
National
Law, Act

Second Region

Replaces the Prevention of Family Violence Act, 1993. The Act comprises a substantial broadening of the limited scope of the 1993 - Act, and recognises that domestic violence is a serious social evil and an obstacle to achieving gender equality. The Act offers protection to any victim of domestic violence who is in a domestic relationship with an abuser. A broad definition has been given to "domestic violence", so as to include any form of abuse and not only physical abuse. The Act places a duty on a member of the Police Service to inform a victim of his or her rights at the scene of the incident of domestic violence. Provision is also made for the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service to issue national guidelines which must be observed when dealing with domestic violence, and failure to comply with these guidelines will result in disciplinary proceedings against the member concerned.

Implementing Text region

Amended Text region

Amending Text region

Electronic region

Serial region

    Serial title
    Government Gazette
    Date
    1998-12-02
    Volume
    Vol. 402
    Number
    No. 19537
    Page range
    21 p.