Unable to sort out differences in co-parenting their daughter (2), a mother has been granted permission, after an application to the Western Cape High Court, to relocate to the UK.

A Cape Times report says the application was opposed by the child’s father – an alleged drunkard with an abusive nature.

In her judgment, Judge Judith Cloete said the papers relating to the matter and the mother’s application ‘are voluminous and are replete with allegations and counter-allegations’.

Cloete said she arrived at her decision by focusing on the ‘matters that are common cause or not seriously disputed as well as the pertinent expert evidence’ which included assessments by social workers and an educational psychologist specialising in the field of child forensic psychology.

In an extensive order, Cloete granted the mother’s application to relocate, and granted the father rights of co-guardianship in respect of their child and that when he does have contact visits with the child, he will be breathalysed, at his cost, until an alcohol addiction specialist has certified that he is rehabilitated and that he no longer needs to be breathalysed.

Further, says the Cape Times, the father will have video contact with his daughter three times per week for periods up to 15 minutes which will be supervised by the mother or an adult approved of by her.

The mother is ordered to make reservations and pay the costs of the father’s airfare to London for his two visits to the child in 2023 and the costs of accommodation for a period of two weeks during the two visits that he is there while he is liable for all other costs pertaining to said visits.

‘The father shall pay the costs of accommodation for any additional time that he is in the UK. From 2024, the father shall be liable for the costs of his airfares and accommodation in the UK and the applicant shall only be responsible for such costs for her visit with (the child) to SA at the end of each year,’ the judgment stipulates.

Full Cape Times report

Judgment