(1)

No petition for divorce shall be presented to the district Court [unless at the date of the presentation of the petition one year has passed] [Substituted by Act 68 of 1976, Section 30, for "unless at the date of presentation of the petition three years have passed " (w.e.f. 27.5.1976).] since the date of entering the certificate of marriage in the Marriage Certificate Book:

Provided that the district Court may, upon application being made to it, allow a petition to be presented [before one year has passed] [Substituted by Act 68 of 1976, Section 30, for "three years have passed " (w.e.f. 27.5.1976).] on the ground that the case is one of exceptional hardship suffered by the petitioner or of exceptional depravity on the part of the respondent, but if it appears to the district Court at the hearing of the petition that the petitioner obtained leave to present the petition by any misrepresentation or concealment of the nature of the case, the district Court may, if it pronounces a decree, do so subject to the condition that the decree shall not have until after the [expiry of one year] [Substituted by Act 68 of 1976, Section 30, for "expiry of three years " (w.e.f. 27.5.1976).]

from the date of the marriage or may dismiss the petition, without prejudice to any petition, which may be brought after the [expiration of the said one year] [Substituted by Act 68 of 1976, Section 30, for "expiration of the said three years " (w.e.f. 27.5.1976).]

upon the same, or substantially the same facts as those proved in support of the petition so dismissed.

(2)

In disposing of any application under this section for leave to present a petition for divorce before the [expiration of one year] [Substituted by Act 68 of 1976, Section 30, for "expiration of the three years " (w.e.f. 27.5.1976).] from the date of the marriage, the district Court shall have regard to the interests of any children of the marriage, and to the question whether there is a reasonable probability of a reconciliation between the parties before the expiration of [said one year] [Substituted by Act 68 of 1976, Section 30, for "said three years " (w.e.f. 27.5.1976).].