https://childwatchsa.com/Blog A chronological record of the case — one event at a time. en-za Sat, 29 Aug 2026 01:52:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/mediation-ordered On 22 May 2026, I attended mediation in accordance with the Children’s Court’s direction following the postponement of the application. During the mediation, I again raised concerns regarding the child’s welfare and the ongoing absence of contact. No agreement was reached that resolved the issues Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/mediation-ordered https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/application-childrens-court-protection-order-feb-2025 I arrive at the office of the Clerk of the Court at 14h30. He advises me that they are fumigating at 15h00, and I need to hurry to complete the necessary form. Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/application-childrens-court-protection-order-feb-2025 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/domestic-violence-court-hearing-postponed On the scheduled hearing date in June 2026, I attended the Stellenbosch Magistrates’ Court for the Domestic Violence Act application. Before the matter could proceed, the presiding magistrate advised that there was no return of service on file and that the application could not be heard. I informe Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/domestic-violence-court-hearing-postponed https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/domestic-violence-application-filed On 4 May 2026, I filed an application in the Stellenbosch Magistrates’ Court in terms of the Domestic Violence Act. The application sought protection against conduct that I described as coercive control and ongoing interference with my relationship with the child. The application relied on the his Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/domestic-violence-application-filed https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/section-55-hearing-postponed On 4 March 2026, I attended the Children’s Court for the hearing of the application. The application was not heard. Instead, the Court postponed the matter and directed that the parties first participate in mediation. A new hearing date was allocated for 22 May 2026 following the mediation proces Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/section-55-hearing-postponed https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/section-55-application-filed On 5 December 2025, I filed an application on the ground that I had never been heard (a gross violation of my rights), having been prevented by my own attorney on 13 May 2025 from attending a hearing on which I was an interested party. Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/section-55-application-filed https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/domestic-violence-application-dismissed On 11 November 2025, the mother’s application for a final protection order came before the Domestic Violence Court. She did not appear when the matter was called. In her absence, the Court dismissed the application and the interim protection order granted on 8 May 2025 came to an end. The dismiss Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/domestic-violence-application-dismissed https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/finally-ready-to-be-heard Fully prepared and excited to finally be heard after 18 months — only for the mother’s attorney to request a postponement. The matter was postponed to 11 November 2025. Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/finally-ready-to-be-heard https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/opposing-affidavit-filed On 16 October 2025, I filed an opposing affidavit in response to the mother’s application for a final protection order. Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/opposing-affidavit-filed https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/warrant-for-arrest The child’s mother emailed my attorneys claiming there was a warrant for my arrest. Three firms of attorneys tried to obtain a copy over three months — none were successful. In October, a Warrant Officer at Sea Point SAPS confirmed there had never been a warrant for my arrest. Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/warrant-for-arrest https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/saps-attempts-to-arrest A SAPS officer arrived at my son’s apartment stating he was there to arrest me, threatened my son with arrest for harbouring a fugitive, and then searched the apartment and parking area — all over an intercom that multiple residents could hear. Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/saps-attempts-to-arrest https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/attempts-to-contact-magistrate Between 13 May and 21 July 2025, I visited the Children’s Court two or three times a week trying to speak with the magistrate, as he had requested — and wrote to every authority I could think of. Only the Family Advocate responded. Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/attempts-to-contact-magistrate https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/return-to-childrens-court-10-june The nanny had quit over sleepless nights worrying about the child, the magistrate laughed off the father’s fear, refused to view the audio evidence, and told me to bring witnesses in October — leaving the child unprotected in the meantime. Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/return-to-childrens-court-10-june https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/dv-court-refers-back-to-childrens-court Due to the incident on 10 May and the fact that no neighbour had been contacted as part of any investigation, I again went to the Children’s Court to apply for protection of a minor — only to be told, after six hours, that my application could not be accepted. Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/dv-court-refers-back-to-childrens-court https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/return-to-childrens-court On the morning of 13 May, my attorney instructed me not to attend the hearing. I later discovered that, as the applicant, I may in fact have had a duty to attend — while the magistrate ruled he needed to speak with me. Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/return-to-childrens-court https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/waiting-for-a-call The nanny spoke to the court-appointed social worker, who promised to call back the next morning — but the call never came. Sun, 11 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/waiting-for-a-call https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/neighbours-complain-child-crying The nanny messaged me saying neighbours were complaining that the child was crying and screaming all night — yet she did not cry when in the nanny’s or the father’s care. Sat, 10 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/neighbours-complain-child-crying https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/interim-protection-order-granted I provided my attorneys with documentation well in advance, but on the morning of court I was introduced to a senior counsel who had not been properly briefed — the postponement was refused and an Interim Protection Order was granted on prima facie evidence. Thu, 08 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/interim-protection-order-granted https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/further-concerns-reported-by-nanny At approximately 23h30, the nanny messaged my son from a neighbour’s phone, desperate for the social worker’s number — but the protection order prevented me from helping. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/further-concerns-reported-by-nanny https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/preliminary-childrens-court-hearing At the first Children’s Court hearing, the social worker’s report was accepted, the mother’s personal friend was allowed to conduct her psychological assessment, my evidence file went unread — and a protection order was waiting for me outside. Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/preliminary-childrens-court-hearing https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/gatekeeping-and-witness-intimidation I looked after the child on 5 March and again on the evening of 7 March while her father attended an event. The following day, the father forwarded a message from the mother accusing us of concealing my visits—and contact came to an abrupt end. Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/gatekeeping-and-witness-intimidation https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/the-social-worker-visit I followed up on a missed call hoping to hear from the social workers. Tracey Petersen of ACVV told me they had visited both parents and saw no bruises—prompting me to clarify that my concerns had never been about physical abuse. Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/the-social-worker-visit https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/application-to-the-childrens-court-20-feb-2025 After the unsuccessful attempt to assess or assist the family on 19 February, I realised that the only way forward was to approach the Children’s Court. Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/application-to-the-childrens-court-20-feb-2025 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/childline-home-visit Childline social workers attended the family home but the mother did not answer the door. The social workers left without seeing the child or completing their assessment. Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/childline-home-visit https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/further-signs-of-concern-ignored The nanny’s WhatsApp message sent me straight to the apartment, where the baby was withdrawn and visibly distressed—so I called Childline again that evening. Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/further-signs-of-concern-ignored https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/i-reported-child-abuse I contacted Childline South Africa to report concerns about the mother’s mental health and how it was affecting the baby—only to be met with no case number, no timeline and no indication that help was on the way. Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://childwatchsa.com/Blog/i-reported-child-abuse