Law of Persons, now in its seventh edition, has become a standard text on the South African law of persons. The book was first published in 1995, just after the dawn of South Africa’s first democratic dispensation. The book constitutes a general and fully referenced source on the law of persons, and reflects the transformation of the law of persons in line with the values entrenched in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, with specific reference to the Bill of Rights. The book’s systematic approach and comprehensive overview make it suitable as a textbook.

Trynie Boezaart (previously writing under the name CJ Davel) has authored Law of Persons since the book was first published. She is Professor Emeritus at the University of Pretoria, founder of the Centre for Child Law at the University of Pretoria, Director of the Centre for Child Law until 2008, and an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa. She has served as an Acting Judge in the High Court and was the Head of the Department of Private Law at the University of Pretoria for more than eight years. Furthermore, she enjoys international recognition for research in child law and the law of persons, has lectured extensively in the law of persons for more than three decades, and has published widely on numerous aspects of the law of persons and related fields.

The second edition of Child Law in South Africa provides insight into the profound impact of recent legislative changes and developments in the associated regulatory frameworks, the judicial interpretation of ground-breaking case law, and the latest research findings in child law in South Africa. The work that has been done at an international level is also incorporated as far as possible within the confines of the topics addressed in this publication.

This new edition of Child Law in South Africa does not merely follow in the path of its predecessor: this publication includes 11 entirely new chapters and 11 ‘new’ authors – experts who did not contribute to the previous edition. Even the ‘revised’ chapters add value as they systematically and critically deal with new knowledge and enhance research.

Child Law in South Africa is written by 22 experts in the field, edited by Professor Trynie Boezaart, an internationally acknowledged researcher in child law, and independently peer-reviewed. The book reflects the enormous scope and dynamics involved in child law and is sure to encourage further debate and analysis.