I think I asked this before but I am darned if I can find where or when! Bear with me? In England up to Divorce Act 1857, if a man deserted his wife and had no further contact with her and simply disappeared, he was considered to be dead after 7 years and she could then remarry.It was one way, a cheap way too of ending a rotten marriage at a time when divorce was almost impossible. Did this apply anywhere in South Africa? 19thC/20thC? thanks Pat