ISIXHOSA/ENGLISH: LEGAL TERMS FOR FAMILY LAW

From the beginning / the start.

Ukusuka ekuqaleni / isiqalo

To annul, to cancel; to make a law void by legislative repeal.

Ukutshitshisa, ukuphelisa; ukwenza
umthetho ube lilize ngokubhangisa
uwiso-mthetho.

A parent may, following divorce
proceedings on the making of a
custodianship order, be given a right of
access by the court to see his/her
child(ren).

Emva koqhawulo-mtshato umzali
unikwa yinkundla ilungelo lokufikelela
ebantwaneni okanye lokubona
abantwana.

Growing or adding interest on a debt or
investment that continues to
accumulate.

Ukuhluma/ukongezelela inzala
esikweletini/uzaliso-mali oluqhubekeka
nokwanda.

To accumulate, to grow, to happen,
with regard to a cause of action or
specific legal claim; to come into
existence as an enforceable claim.

Kulapho ilifa labatshatileyo lithi likhule,
kuze kuthi xa bewuchitha umtshato
bahlulelane ngesixa somahluko
phakathi kwemali umyeni nomfazi
angene nayo emtshatweni, naleyo
bathe bayenza bekunye

Action resulting from derogation of
personality.

Inyathelo elithatyathwa ngenxa
yokuthotywa kwesidima somntu othile.

An act by which the rights and duties
of the natural parents of a child are
extinguished, and equivalent rights and
duties become vested in the adopters,
to whom the child then stands in all
respects as if born to them in lawful
wedlock.

Voluntary sexual intercourse between a
married person and another person,
who is not his/her married spouse.

Ukwabelana ngesondo okwenzeka
ngemvumelwano phakathi komntu
otshatileyo nomnye umntu
angatshatanga naye.

A statement in writing and on oath,
sworn before a person with authority
to administer it. The person who
makes the statement is called the
affiant.

Ingxelo ebhaliweyo efungelweyo,
ifungelwa phambi komntu onegunya
lokuyilawula. Umntu owenza le ngxelo
kuthiwa ngumfungi.

To transfer title / ownership to
somebody else.

Ukugqithisela ilifa komnye umntu.

The intention of offending someone.

Injongo yokukhubekisa umntu.

To make void, to dissolve that which
once existed, e.g. to annul the bond of
matrimony. A marriage that is annulled
is void ab initio as opposed to a
marriage that is dissolved by a decree
of divorce.

Ukwenziwa ilize nokuchitha oko
kwakha kwakho, okunjengokuchitha
ikhonkco lomtshato. Umtshato
otshitshisiweyo uba void ab initio
kwasekuqaleni xa uthelekiswa
nomtshato ochithwe ngokwesigwebo
soqhawulo-mtshato.

Contract before marriage.

Isivumelwano saphambi komtshato.

The party who appeals a trial court
decision after having lost a case.

Umntu owenza isibheno kwisigwebo
senkundla esimlahlileyo.

Property that has monetary value,
including articles with only sentimental
value (particularly in the estates of the
dead).

Iimpahla ezinexabiso lemali, kuquka
izinto ezinexabiso lokuzibuka kuphela
(ingakumbi kwilifa lomntu
ongasekhoyo).

A disposition by will of personal
property; a legacy / a gift of personal
property contained in a will.

Ukwabiwa kwelifa lomntu
ngokomyolelo; ilifa / isipho selifa
somntu esiqulethwe kumyolelo.

The offence of marrying a second time
by someone who has a husband/wife
still living without being divorced.

Ityala lokutshata okwesibini, ngelixa
ubani anomyeni/inkosikazi esaphilayo
kwaye nomtshato bengawuqhawulanga.

Good faith, without fraud or deceit.

Ngokunyanisekileyo, ngaphandle
kokuqhatha / inkohlakalo okanye
inkohliso.

Law of the Christian Church.

Umthetho weCawe yobuKrestu.

Having legal authority or mental ability
to act.

The common law right of a parent /
teacher / other person having the
lawful control to administer
punishment was preserved by the
Children and Young Persons Act of
1933, Section 1(7).

Ilungelo lomzali / likatitshala/ lomnye
umntu lokuba nolawulo
olusemthethweni lokusebenzisa
isohlwayo lagcinwa nguMthetho
waBantwana naBantu aBatsha we1933, isiqendu 1(7).

Any lawsuits relating to civil matters
and not criminal prosecutions.

Nasiphi na isimangalo esiphathelene
nemiba yoluntu, nesingesiso
esotshutshiso lolwaphulo-mthetho.

A state in which spouses hold property
that is acquired during marriage (other
than property acquired by inheritance
or individual gifts).

Of sound mind; able to go to trial.

Ukuba sezingqondweni eziphileleyo
ngohlobo lokuba ungajongana
nezityholo.

A term / requirement stated in a
contract that must be met for the other
party to have the duty to fulfil his/her
obligations.

Umqathango oxelwe kwisivumelwano
nomelwe kukuhlangatyezwa ukuze
omnye umntu akwazi ukuzalisekisa
izibophelelo zakhe.

Relationship by blood / descent from
common ancestor, whether male or
female.

Uzalwano ngegazi / isinyanya
esingunozala womnombo nokuba
sesiyindoda okanye sesingumfazi.

The companionship of a spouse. If a
spouse is injured / emotionally
distressed through the fault of another,
a possible claim could include the value
of the spouse’s services or
companionship that was lost due to the
accident.

Does not refer to any duty that arises
from the contract itself, but to the legal
requirements that bind the contracting
parties to the performance of the
undertaking.

Igama elingabhekiselele kuyo nayiphi
na imfanelo evela kubuqu
besivumelwano, koko iimfanelo
ezisemthethweni ezidibanisa amaqela
avumelanayo kuphumezo
lwesibhambathiso

A person entrusted with the charge of
an estate, or with the conduct of a
minor, who is past the age of pupilage,
or with the management of a lawsuit.

Umntu ophathiswe ulawulo lwelifa,
okanye lwempatho yomntwana
ongekafikeleli kubuntu obudala, okanye
ulawulo lwesimangalo.

A cash compensation ordered by a
court to offset losses / suffering caused
by another’s fault or negligence.

Imali eyimbuyekezo ngokuyalelwa
yinkundla ukuba ilinganise ilahleko /
imbulaleko ebangwe yimposiso okanye
kukungakhathali kothile.

A written acknowledgement of a debt
with a promise to pay; financial
obligations of corporations are often
bought and sold as investments.

Isivumo esibhaliweyo sesikweleti
nesithembiso sokusihlawula; iimfanelo
zemali zamaqumrhu ezisoloko
zithengwa zibuye zithengiswe
njengozaliso-mali.

One who is being sued in a civil case by
another private individual, and who is
able to contest the action by offering a
legally recognised excuse.

Ngulo umangalelwayo kwityala loluntu
kwaye unako ukuphikisana
nesimangalo ngokunika ubungqina
obusisizathu esisemthethweni.

Violation of the law.

Ukutyeshelwa komthetho.

Of or relating to a violation of law.

Okuphathelele kutyeshelo lomthetho.

A legally recognised handing over of
one’s possessory rights to another.

Ukunikezelwa ngokusemthethweni
kwamalungelo ebango lomntu othile
komnye.

A person who to some extent depends
on others for the provision of the
ordinary necessities of life.

Umntu othi ngohlobo oluthile
axhomekeke kwabanye ngobonelelo
lweemfuneko eziqhelekileyo zokuphila.

An abandonment of a wife/husband,
i.e. a matrimonial offence.

Ukulahlwa komfazi/komyeni; oku
kulityala ngokomthetho womtshato.

The power of a judge / public official to
make decisions on various matters
based on his/her opinion within general
legal guidelines.

Amandla omgwebi / egosa loluntu
okwenza izigqibo kwimibandela
eyahlukeneyo nesekwe kuluvo lwakhe
ngokungaphakathi kwezikhokelo
zomthetho.

Unequal treatment of persons, for a
reason that has nothing to do with
legal rights or ability.

Ukuphathwa kwabantu
ngokungalinganiyo, ngesizathu
esingenanto yakwenza namalungelo /
nobuchule bomthetho.

Termination of the legal relationship
between persons formally joined by
marriage or partnership.

Ukupheliswa kobudlelwane
basemthethweni babo bantu
bebefudula bedityaniswe ngumtshato /
bubulingane.

Termination of a marriage otherwise
than by death or annulment. A petition
for divorce might be formerly
presented to the High Court by a
husband/wife on the grounds of
adultery, desertion, cruelty or insanity.

Ukupheliswa komtshato ngandlela
yimbi ngaphandle kokufa okanye
ukutshitshiswa. Isicelo
soqhawulomtshato singangeniswa
ngokusesikweni kwiNkundla
ePhakamileyo ngumyeni/ngumfazi
phantsi kwesizathu sokukrexeza,
ukulahlwa, inkohlakalo, okanye
impambano.

The person who donates property to
the benefit of another.

Umntu onikela ngelifa ukuba
lixhanyulwe ngomnye umntu.

Where a person is prevented from
acting (not acting) according to his/her
free will, by threats or force of another.

Apho ubani athintelwa ukuba enze
(angenzi) ngokwentando yakhe, kuba
esoyikiswa okanye enyanzelwa
ngomnye.

The right to equal treatment (with the
same concern and respect) enshrined
in the Bill of Rights.

Ukuphathwa komntu wonke
ngenkathalo nangentlonipho efanayo.

When a contract is invalidated because
the parties are not ad idem (of the
same mind) about the nature of the
contract.

Akukho sivumelwano kuba amaqela
akakho ad idem ngobume
besivumelwano.

When a property is bequeathed in
trust, usually entailing a successive
right to the property.

Umyolelo okwitrasti.

With the intention to defraud.

Iinjongo zokuqhatha / zokudyobha
ngentshongo emehlweni.

One who has the charge or custody of
any person or thing; more commonly
the person who has the custody and
education of a person who is not of
sufficient discretion to manage his/her
own affairs.

Umntu onegunya lokugcina
nokukhathalela umntu okanye into,
kodwa ixesha elininzi ikukugcina umntu
nokumluleka kuba yena engenangqiqo
yaneleyo yokuzenzela izinto zakhe.

A person convicted of crime on
numerous occasions, and who for that
reason is subject to an extended term
of imprisonment under the habitual
offender laws of many jurisdictions.

Umntu ogwetywe amaxesha amaninzi
ngenxa yolwaphulo-mthetho, nothe
ngenxa yeso sizathu abe phantsi
kwesigwebo esongezelelweyo phantsi
kwemithetho yezaphula-mthetho ezona
rhoqo.

When one spouse abandons the other
without a good cause and with the
intention of not returning.

Ukulahlwa ngaphandle kwesizathu
esivakalayo.

Authority or power of a husband over
his wife in terms of common law.

Igunya / amandla endoda kumfazi
wayo ngokomthetho oqhelekileyo.

When a debtor is threatened and
induced by fear of arrest to sign an
acknowledgement of debt of an
amount due; similar to “duress”. The
creditor does not act according to good
morals.

Apho umntu onesikweleti athi kuba
eqhutywa luloyiko lokubanjwa,
oyikiswa ukuba asayine isivumo-tyala
semali elindelekileyo. Umntu
okweletwayo wenza ngokuchasene
nobulungisa ngokwenza njalo.

A person who has not attained full age,
and in the case of common law cannot
contract without the assistance of
his/her guardian.

Umntu ongekafikeleli kubudala
obuzeleyo, kwaye ngokomthetho
akanakungena kwisivumelwano
ngaphandle koncedo lomgcini wakhe.

A gift made in anticipation of death.

Isipho esenziwe ngenx’ engaphambi
kokufa.

Similar manner, with the necessary
changes.

Ngokufanayo, ngeenguqu eziyimfuneko.

Failure to exercise the degree of care
that a person of ordinary prudence (a
reasonable man) would exercise under
the same circumstances, e.g. conduct
that falls below the standard
established by law for the protection of
others against unreasonable risk of
harm.

Ukusilela ukuthabatha iqondo
lenkathalo eliqondo ebenokuthi umntu
oqiqayo alisebenzise phantsi
kweemeko ezinjalo, umz. isimilo esiwa
nganeno kumgangatho omiselwe
ngumthetho ngenjongo yokukhusela
abanye phantsi komngcipheko
wobungozi.

A contract that is attested and certified
to be authentic.

Isivumelwano esifungelweyo
nesiqinisekiswe njengesiyinene.

An act or omission punishable under
criminal law.

Isenzo / ukungenzi njengoko
kulindelekile ngokwasemthethweni.

A display of willingness to enter into a
contract on specified terms, made in a
way that would lead a reasonable
person to understand that an
acceptance will result in a binding
contract.

Ukubonisa umnqweno wokungena
kwisivumelwano ngokukhululekileyo
ngamagama aqingqekileyo nenziwe
ngendlela eya kukhokelela ekubeni
umntu aqonde ukuba ukuwamkela
kuya kuphumela kwisivumelwano
esibophelelayo.

The release of a prisoner from
imprisonment before his/her sentence
has been served. Usually granted for
good behaviour on condition that the
parolee regularly reports to a
supervising officer for a specified
period.

Ukukhululwa kwebanjwa eluvalelweni
lingekasigqibi isigwebo salo. Ivame
ukunikwa ngenxa yokuziphatha
kakuhle, ngokommiselo wokuba
oyinikiweyo uya kuzivelisa rhoqo
kwigosa elongameleyo kangangexesha
eliqingqekileyo.

The relation between persons carrying
on a business in common, with a view
to profit.

Ubudlelwane obuphakathi kwabantu
abathwele ushishino ngembono enye
yokufumana inzuzo.

Law dealing with all of a person’s
assets and liabilities that are capable of
monetary valuation and subject to
execution for a creditor’s benefit.

Zizonke izinto zexabiso, kuquka
namatyala, anazo umntu nezinokuba
nexabiso lemali xa zinokuthengiselwa
ukuhlawula abantu anezikweleti kubo.

Fulfilment of one’s obligations required
by contract, e.g. what may be
demanded in a lawsuit.

Ukuthi ubani azalisekise iimfuno zakhe
njengoko kufunwa njalo
sisivumelwano, umz. oko
kunokubangwa kwisimangalo.

A person who brings a case against
another party in a court of law.

Umntu ozisa ityala kwinkundla
yamatyala ukuze agwetyelwe ngenxa
yokoniwa ngomnye.

When a woman has more than one
husband simultaneously.

Isithembu apho inkosikazi inabayeni
abangaphezu kwesinye ngaxeshanye.

Practice / custom of having more than
one wife/husband simultaneously.

Isiko lokuba nomfazi / umyeni
ongaphezu kwesinye ngaxeshanye

Existing law created by legally valid
procedures, “…law set by political
superiors to political inferiors”.

Umthetho okhoyo nodalwe ziinkqubo
ezisemthethweni, “…umthetho obekwe
zizikhulu zopolitiko ziwubekela
abangaphantsi kwezopolitiko.

A rule of law that permits a court to
assume that a fact is true until there is
preponderance of evidence.

Ummiselo womthetho ovumela ukuba
inkundla ithabathe inqaku
njengeliyinyaniso de kube kukho
ubungqina obuphikisayo.

A person who cannot be trusted to look
after his/her own property.

Umntu ekungenakuthenjelwa kuye
ukuba ajonge ilifa/izinto ezizezakhe.

Forbidden degrees of consanguinity.

Amaqondo angavumelekanga omtshato
ngenxa yozalwano ngegazi.

The age of 14 in males and 12 in
females, at which they are deemed
formally capable of contracting
marriage.

Ubudala obuli-14 emakhwenkweni
nobuli-12 leminyaka
emantombazaneni, obucingelwa
njengobufaneleke ukwenza
isivumelwano somtshato
ngokusesikweni.

A marriage that is actually null, but has
been contracted in good faith by both
parties, or by one of the parties.

Umtshato ongasinguwo owenene,
kodwa babe abatshati bezicingela
ukuba batshate ngokwenene.

Rights pertaining to a thing rather than
a person, including ownership,
habitation, pledge, real mortgage

Amalungelo anxulumene nezinto
kunabantu, aquka ubunini, ukuhlala,
izibambiso nezivumelwano zezibambiso
zokwenene.

Those losses that can readily be proven
to have been sustained, and for which
the injured party should be
compensated as a matter of right.

An ordinary presumption that must, as
a matter of law, be made once certain
facts have been proved, and which is
thus said to establish a certain
conclusion prima facie once those facts
have been adduced, unless explicitly
proved untrue.

Ummiselo wasemthethweni ovumela
ukuba inkundla ithabathe amanqaku
njengayinyaniso, kodwa loo manqaku
a-prima facie xa kuvela ubungqina.

The legal right to demand
compensation or payment.

Ilungelo elisemthethweni lokubanga
imbuyekezo okanye intlawulo.

The act or process of distributing
something again or anew (e.g.
redistribution of wealth).

Isenzo okanye inkqubo yokwabiwa
kwento kwakhona ngendlela
engenzeleliyo okanye ngokutsha (umz.
ukwabiwa kobutyebi ngokutsha ukuze
kungabikho udlelwa indlala).

Denial of the existence of a contract
and/or refusal to pay.

Ukuphikwa/ukukhanyelwa kobukho
besivumelwano kunye nokwala
ukuhlawula.

The cancellation of a contract and the
return of the parties to the positions
they would have occupied had the
contract not been entered into.

Ukurhoxiswa kwesivumelwano
kwanokubuyela kwamaqela
kwizikhundla angel’ ezibambile ukuba
besingenziwanga isivumelwano.

Receiving payment or performance of
what is due.

Ukwamkela intlawulo okanye ukwenza
njengoko kulindelekile
(kokukweletwayo).

Use of charm, promises or gifts to
induce another person to have sexual
intercourse outside marriage, without
any use of force/intimidation.

Ukusetyenziswa kwekhubalo,
izithembiso, izipho ngumntu othile
ngenjongo yokumcenga ukuba abe
nesondo naye ngokungaphandle
komtshato, kungakhange
kusetyenziswe hlobo
lonyanzelo/loloyikiso.

The act of seizing / taking possession
of the property (or goods) belonging to
another, and holding it until the profits
have paid the demand for which it was
taken.

Isenzo sokohlutha / sokuthabatha
ibango leempahla zomnye umntu,
zigcinwe de ibe inzala ilihlawulele
ibango ebithatyathelwe lona. Ibango
elenziwa ngummangalelwa
kwisimangalo sokuba utyalwa
ngummangali imali, enokuthatyathwa
kwimali yeendleko ebangwa
ngummangali.

A claim by a defendant in a lawsuit that
the plaintiff owes the defendant
money, which could be subtracted from
the amount of damages claimed by a
plaintiff.

Ibango elenziwa ngummangalelwa
kwisimangalo sokuba utyalwa
ngummangali imali, enokuthatyathwa
kwimali yeendleko ebangwa
ngummangali.

Compensation, especially damages,
allowed for hurt feelings or grief, as
opposed to damages for physical injury

Imbuyekezo, umz. umonakalo
ovunyelwa ngenxa yeentlungu
zomphefumlo okanye ezokufelwa,
ngokwahlukileyo kumonakalo
wokwenzakala ngokwenyama.

To waste in a reckless or foolish
manner.

Ukudyakraza ngendlela engenankathalo
nebhanxekileyo.

During the subsistence of the marriage
/ while it continues.

Ngelixa umtshato uqhubayo.

State-written law enacted by state
legislature.

Umthetho obhaliweyo welizwe,
nomiselwe yindlu yowiso-mthetho.

Immorality/unchastity on the part of
the wife. Where a woman prior to her
marriage has had illicit intercourse with
another man, and as a result has fallen
pregnant, her husband (if he married
her in ignorance of this, and after
discovery cannot condone it) has the
right to declare the marriage null and
void.

Ukungabikho sikweni nokungabikho
nyulu kwicala lenkosikazi. Apho umfazi
athi phambi komtshato abelane
ngesondo nenye indoda ngokungekho
sikweni, isiphumo sibe kukukhulelwa
umyeni wakhe (ukuba umtshate
engabazi ubunyaniso boku, kwaye
emva kokubufumanisa akabuxolela)
uya kuba nelungelo lokuwuphelisa
umtshato njengotshitshisiweyo.

The only one of its kind / peculiar.

Ekuphela kwayo kuhlobo lwayo /
ekudidi lwayo yodwa.

Understood without being stated;
acceptance without discussion.

Isivumelwano esinokuqondwa nokuba
asixelwanga.

The one who makes a will.

Ubani owenza umyolelo.

A person who is not specified in a
contract or transaction, but is involved.

Umntu ongenanto yakwenza
nesivumelwano/kurhwebelwano,
kodwa enenxaxheba ethile.

A right of property, real or personal,
held by one party for the benefit of
another. Also applies to any
relationship in which one acts as a
guardian or fiduciary in relation to
another’s property

Ilungelo lelifa eligcinwe ngomnye
umntu ukuze lixhanyulwe ngomnye.
Ikwabhekiselele, kubo nabuphi na
ubudlelwane apho ubani athi asebenze
njengomgcini welifa okanye imali
yomnye ngokwasemthethweni.

Amount of pressure that one uses to
force someone to execute a will leaving
assets in a particular way, to make a
direct gift while alive / to sign a
contract.

Uxinzelelo athi ubani alusebenzise
ekunyanzeleni omnye ukuba enze
umyolelo apho ashiya izinto zakhe kuye
ngendlela ethile, enze isipho ngokuthe
ngelixa asaphilayo / atyikitye
isivumelwano.

A benefit by chance, mistake or
another misfortune for which the one
enriched has not paid/worked and
morally and ethically should not keep.

When there is a legally valid reason
why a marriage or an engagement
cannot be regarded as being lawful,
and the normal consequence does not
follow.

Kuxa kukho isizathu esisemthethweni
sokuba umtshato okanye ingeji
ayinakwamkelwa
njengokusemthethweni kwaye izinto
eziqhelekileyo zingenakwenzeka.

Capable of being made void, e.g. a
contract entered into by a minor is
voidable upon his/her reaching majority.

Sinako ukwenziwa sibe lihamte, umz,
isivumelwano ekungenwe kuso
ngumntwana silihamte akufikelela
ebudaleni.

When one renounces or disclaims a
benefit. He/she is said to waive a tort /
injury when he/she abandons the
concomitant remedy provided for by
law

Xa ubani engasibangi isibonelelo,
kuthiwa uncamile xa ayeka uncedo
alunikwa ngumthetho.