ZENOBIA ELIZABETH DU TOIT
B.A LLB (University of Stellenbosch).
Admitted as an Attorney in April 1982 and practiced as such to date.
Director of firm of attorneys, Miller du Toit Cloete Inc. Worked exclusively in family law, human rights and and related constitutional law and commercial law issues from 1 April 1998 onwards. Deals with matters from various jurisdictions.
Miller du Toit Cloete Inc, in conjunction with the University of the Western Cape, annually presents a family law conference dealing with developing aspects of family law in South Africa and internationally. The conference attracts an interdisciplinary attendance as well as speakers from Africa and from other international jurisdictions, expert in their fields. Papers from the conference have often been quoted in emerging case law in South Africa. It serves a valuable educational, networking and information sharing.
Presented various workshops and talks regarding family law matters, developing family law and gender equality, children's rights, constitutional aspects of family law, and constitutional law. Presented workshops for visIting international judges, magistrates and lawyers re developing South African family law in a number of occasions.
Regularly presents papers and participates at international conferences, inter eiie :-
• "Representation of children" at the Commonwealth Association and Law Societies
Conference, London (2006)
• "Domestic and same sex relationships and children" at the International Bar Association
Conference, Singapore (2007)
• Workshops nationally on "Developments in Family Law and the new Children's Act" (2007
& 2008) for LEAD and the Cape Law Society Family Law Committee
• "Relocation – the Facts, the Law, the Future" at the First International Family Law & Practice Conference 2011: London Metropolitan University; and
• "Child Custody Law in South Africa" at the Second International Family Law & Practice
Conference in 2013: London Metropolitan University.
Co-ordinator and chair or co-chair of sessions at the annual conferences of the IBA:-
• 2010 – Vancouver – Adoption
• 2011 – Dubai – Children and Family Financial Matters for Collaboration and Mediation
• 2012 – Dublin – Children's Rights and Legal Representation
• 2013 – Boston – Mediation & Arbitration in Family Law matters.
Committee member Cape Attorneys' Association of Family Lawyers Committee (1999 to date), Chairperson LSSA family law Committee (2003/2004), committee member LSSA family law Committee (2002 to date), member of the IAYFJM, committee member of the family law committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) since 2007 and currently chair of the sub- committee on Children's Rights, member of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (IAML) and currently a member of the sub-committees on surrogacy and outreach.
Appointed in 2013 to the International Working Group at the Hague Conference on Private
International Law to develop a guide to good practice on the interpretation and application of Act
13( 1)(b) of the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention.
Co-edited a collection of papers presented at the annual conference "The Trials and Tribulations, Trends and Triumphs: Developments in International African and South African Child and Family Law", which is published by Juta.
Contributed to articles for publication in "Family Law".
Trustee Body Corporate Curzon Place (1985 to 1999), President of Soroptomist International of Lion's Head (1990 – 1991), Chairperson Carinus Nursinq College Council (October 1992 – 1994), Director AFSA (1991 – 1993), attended Mediation Courses (1991 and 1994), sub-committee convenor Women's Rights – Soroptomist International of Lion's Head, Committee member Executive Women's Club (1992 to beginning 1994), Committee member Cape Town Attorney's Association (1992 to 1997), Woman's National Coalition – Education and Research sub-committee group (1992 – 1994), Expert member of the Technical Committee on the Transitional Executive Council at the Multi-Party Negotiating Process, Kempton Park – prepare legislation in committee (April – October 1993). Council members of St Cyprian's School Council 2010 to date and currently deputy chairperson.
