The Possible Impact of the Wilsnach v M [2021] 1 All SA 600 (GP) Judgment on the Right of an Absent Muslim Parent to Inherit in Terms of an Islamic Will

• Citation: (2023) 10(2) Journal of Comparative Law in Africa 204
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.47348/JCLA/v10/i2a7
• Published date: 13 February 2024
• Pages: 204-214
• Author: Muneer, A.
• Date: 13 February 2024

204

https://doi.org/10.47348/JCLA/v10/i2a7

THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF THE

WILSNACH V M [2021] 1 ALL SA 600 (GP)

JUDGMENT ON THE RIGHT OF AN ABSENT

MUSLIM PARENT TO INHERIT IN TERMS OF

AN ISLAMIC WILL

Abduroaf Muneer*

Abstract

The Gauteng Division of the High Court, Pretoria handed down a judgment in

Wilsnach v M [2021] 1 All SA 600 (GP) (Wilsnach) during 2020, where it

held that a biological father could not inherit “in the capacity of a parent” due

to absence, in terms of the Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987 on the basis he

inter alia lost his rights and obligations in terms of s 18 of the Children’s Act

38 of 2005 (hereafter absent parent). This article analyses the potential impact

that the Wilsnach judgment could have on the right of a Muslim father to inherit

in terms of an Islamic will in the event where he too has lost his rights and

obligations in terms of s 18 of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005.1 An overview of

the Wilsnach judgment is analysed by way of introduction.The right of a Muslim

parent to inherit from their child in terms of “Islamic law” is then explored.

The possible impact that the Wilsnach judgment could have on the right of a father

to inherit in terms of the “Islamic will” is then investigated. The article concludes

with an overall analysis of the findings and makes a recommendation as to how

Islamic law consequences can be accommodated.

Keywords: inherit; disqualification; succession; Islamic law; South African

law

Résumé

La division Gauteng de la Haute Cour de Pretoria a rendu un jugement dans

l’affaire Wilsnach v M [2021] 1 All SA 600 (GP) (Wilsnach) en 2020, dans

lequel elle a estimé qu’un père biologique ne pouvait pas hériter «en qualité

de parent» pour cause d’absence, conformément à La Loi 81 de 1987 sur Les

Successions ab Intestat, au motif qu’il avait notamment perdu ses droits et

obligations en vertu de l’article 18 de la loi 38 de 2005 Sur Les Enfants (ci-

après dénommé «parent absent»). Cet article analyse l’impact potentiel de l’arrêt

Wilsnach sur le droit d’un père musulman d’hériter en vertu d’un testament

islamique dans le cas où il a également perdu ses droits et obligations en vertu de

l’article 18 de la loi 38 de 2005 sur Les Enfants. Un aperçu de l’arrêt Wilsnach

* BA (Shariah) LLB, LLM, LLD, Associate Professor in Law, Faculty of Law, Department of

Private Law, University of the Western Cape (UWC).

1 For purposes of this article an Islamic will is referred to as a will that gives effect to the

provisions found within the Islamic law of succession.

(2023) 10(2) Journal of Comparative Law in Africa 204

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