Litigation: Attorney claims landmark ruling for rights of dads

The Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) has sentenced a mother and a grandmother to 30 days’ imprisonment suspended on the condition that they allow a father contact with his daughter. The attorney for the aggrieved father, Vanessa da Silva-Faria, said the ruling is a landmark for fathers’ rights in accessing their children. ‘I think this is a vindication for fathers’ rights all around. This (judgment) confirms that fathers do have equal rights, and their rights are worth fighting for,’ said Da Silva-Faria. Da Silva-Faria said the father had been denied access to the child for three years. Judge Munzhelele ruled that the mother and the maternal grandmother of the child were in contempt of court by denying and frustrating the father’s parental rights to exercise contact to his minor child.