Workshop on Navigating Divorce – A South African and Islamic Law Perspective

The ENS pro bono team recently hosted the Muslim Family Law Hub for a workshop on Navigating Divorce within South African and Islamic law frameworks. The event took place at ENS’s offices in Mitchells Plain on 7 May 2025. The workshop was co-ordinated by ENS’s outstanding pro bono team, particularly attorneys Natasha Wagiet, Yumna Ederies, and Taniesha Vaswani, who hosted two of our esteemed directors, Fatima Essop and Hoodah Abrahams-Fayker. Our director, Fatima, delivered an insightful and comprehensive presentation on the critical intersection of these legal frameworks.

Breakout sessions followed the presentation. During the breakout sessions, participants raised insightful questions that ignited lively discussions. The workshop fostered invaluable knowledge exchanges as it brought together community activists, court officials, and imams from surrounding communities. These discussions highlighted the challenges faced by community members when navigating Islamic divorces within the South African legal context. This workshop highlights the important work that lies ahead in bridging these two legal systems.