Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act No. 116 of 1998)15. Orders as to costs of service and directions |
[Section 15 heading substituted by sections 1 and 20 of the Domestic Violence Amendment Act, 2021 (Act No. 14 of 2021), as per Notice No. 788, GG45824, dated 28 January 2022]
(1) | The court may, having regard to the conduct of the parties as far as it may be relevant, make an order as to costs against any party if it is satisfied that such party has acted frivolously, vexatiously or unreasonably. |
(2) | Notwithstanding subsection (1), the court must where a final protection order is issued in terms of section 6, make an order as to costs against the respondent in respect of the— |
(a) | service of any process or documents; |
(b) | obtaining of information as contemplated in section 5B(1)(b); |
(c) | providing of the information referred to in section 5B(6); or |
(d) | removal of, or disabling of access to, electronic communication contemplated in section 5B(7). |
[Section 15 substituted by section 20 of the Domestic Violence Amendment Act, 2021 (Act No. 14 of 2021), as per Notice No. 788, GG45824, dated 28 January 2022 - effective 14 April 2023 as the date on which the said Act, with the exception of section 6A, comes into operation, as per Proclamation No. 117, GG48419, dated 14 April 2023]