Court rules on interim maintenance for woman after 29-year relationship

FINANCIAL REPRIEVE

- ZELDA VENTER

THE Western Cape High Court has found that a woman who has split from her now former life partner is entitled to interim maintenance pending the finalisation of her claim for ongoing maintenance.

In granting the woman financial reprieve for now, Judge Gayaat Da Silva-Salie said it is not necessary at this interim stage to determine whether an enforceable life partnership with maintenance obligations in fact existed, as this issue is reserved for trial court.

The parties cohabited for 29 years and raised two children. They commenced a romantic relationship in 1984. In 1991 they entered into a life partnership. The applicant told the court that throughout the duration of the partnership, they conducted themselves as spouses.

She explained that they cohabited, raised their children jointly and referred to one another as husband and wife. The man (the respondent) in fact described the applicant as his “lifelong partner” in his will and as his wife in various documents.