According to a 2021 study by the social development department, communication, both the lack thereof as well as toxic interaction, is cited as the number 1 reason for why couples divorce in SA. 

It may be significant disagreements about finances, in-laws, raising children, life goals and simply inability to manage conflict, or it may just be a display of toxic and emotionally abusive communication patterns like silent treatment, exerting controlling behaviour over one another, gaslighting, narcissism, or just taking one another for granted. B..