# After Divorce > Free weekly meetups for divorced and separated men and women in South Africa. A free, volunteer-run divorce support group built around a fixed weekly calendar of activities instead of a course. Men-only meetups, women-only meetups, mixed socials and a monthly singles night. Not religious. Not a business. Not counselling. ## Key facts - Country: South Africa - Cost: free. No membership, no fees. - Who it is for: divorced and separated men and women, at any stage. - Format: in-person meetups built around an activity (padel, braai, walk, supper, parkrun). No sign-up needed to attend. - How to join: https://afterdivorce.co.za/join - Cities: Johannesburg (taking names, not yet meeting), Pretoria (taking names, not yet meeting), Cape Town (taking names, not yet meeting), Durban (taking names, not yet meeting), Gqeberha (taking names, not yet meeting), Bloemfontein (taking names, not yet meeting) ## The standing week - Men's midweek (Men): Every Wednesday, 18:30. Padel one week, a braai the next. - Women's midweek (Women): Every Thursday, 18:30. Supper club or an evening walk. - Singles night (Everyone): Fourth Friday of the month, 19:00. For divorced singles who feel ready to meet someone. - Saturday parkrun and coffee (Everyone): Every Saturday, 08:00. Walk it or run it. Coffee after. Kids welcome. - Sunday social (Everyone): Second Sunday of the month, 15:00. Mixed afternoon: quiz, hike or a wine farm. ## Main pages - [Home](https://afterdivorce.co.za): what the group is and how it works - [Weekly schedule](https://afterdivorce.co.za/schedule): the standing week and the next four weeks of dates - [Divorce support group for men](https://afterdivorce.co.za/divorce-support-group-for-men): men-only meetups - [Divorce support group for women](https://afterdivorce.co.za/divorce-support-group-for-women): women-only meetups - [Singles nights for divorced people](https://afterdivorce.co.za/singles-nights-for-divorced-people): mixed socials and singles nights - [Divorce support group in Johannesburg](https://afterdivorce.co.za/divorce-support-group/johannesburg) - [Divorce support group in Pretoria](https://afterdivorce.co.za/divorce-support-group/pretoria) - [Divorce support group in Cape Town](https://afterdivorce.co.za/divorce-support-group/cape-town) - [Divorce support group in Durban](https://afterdivorce.co.za/divorce-support-group/durban) - [Divorce support group in Gqeberha](https://afterdivorce.co.za/divorce-support-group/gqeberha) - [Divorce support group in Bloemfontein](https://afterdivorce.co.za/divorce-support-group/bloemfontein) ## Guides - [Divorce support groups in South Africa: how to choose](https://afterdivorce.co.za/guides/divorce-support-groups-south-africa): South Africa has four main kinds of divorce support: church-run courses such as DivorceCare, counselling services such as FAMSA and SADAG support groups, online groups on Facebook and WhatsApp, and activity-based meetups such as After Divorce. Courses suit people who want structure, counselling suits people who are struggling to function, and meetups suit people who mainly need company and something to do. - [How to cope with divorce as a man](https://afterdivorce.co.za/guides/how-to-cope-with-divorce-as-a-man): To cope with divorce as a man, keep a routine, stay physically active, see people in person at least twice a week, go easy on alcohol, and tell at least one person the truth about how you are doing. Most men feel worst in the first few months and steadier within a year or two. If you cannot sleep, work or see a way forward, speak to a doctor or call a helpline. - [Life after divorce for men: starting over at 30, 40 and 50](https://afterdivorce.co.za/guides/life-after-divorce-for-men): Life after divorce for men usually gets better, but not by itself. The men who do well rebuild four things on purpose: a home that feels like theirs, a weekly routine, a circle of friends, and their role as a father if they have children. A new relationship works best when it comes after those four, not instead of them. - [Life after divorce for women: finding your feet again](https://afterdivorce.co.za/guides/life-after-divorce-for-women): Life after divorce for women usually improves with time, especially once money and routine feel under control. The steps that help most are getting a clear picture of your finances, building a week that includes time for yourself, staying close to friends or finding new ones, and accepting help with the children. Grief and relief often arrive together, and both are normal. - [Lonely after divorce: why it happens and what to do about it](https://afterdivorce.co.za/guides/lonely-after-divorce): Loneliness after divorce is normal and usually temporary. It is strongest in the evenings, on weekends without the children and on holidays. What helps is regular time with people in person, planned in advance for the hours you find hardest: a weekly activity, a standing coffee, a group that meets on a fixed day. A new relationship is not the cure, and often makes it worse if started too soon. - [How to make friends and meet people after divorce](https://afterdivorce.co.za/guides/how-to-make-friends-after-divorce): To make friends after divorce, join something that meets every week and keep going for at least two months. Friendship comes from seeing the same people repeatedly while doing something together, so regular activities such as a parkrun, a padel group, a hiking club or a divorce meetup work far better than one-off events. Expect it to take a few months. - [Divorced dads: staying close to your kids](https://afterdivorce.co.za/guides/divorced-dads): Divorced dads stay close to their children by being reliable more than by being impressive: turn up on time every time, keep ordinary routines in your home, stay in touch between visits, and never run down their mother in front of them. For the weekends without them, plan something with other adults in advance so the silence does not catch you. - [Dating after divorce: when you are ready and where to meet](https://afterdivorce.co.za/guides/dating-after-divorce): You are ready to date after divorce when you want a partner but no longer need one to feel all right. Signs are that a weekend alone does not hurt, you can talk about your ex calmly, and your daily life is stable. Meeting people in person through regular social events tends to work better than apps, because you see how someone behaves over time. Go slowly, and introduce children only once the relationship is serious. ## Crisis help in South Africa - SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 567 567 (24 hours) - Lifeline South Africa: 0861 322 322 (24 hours)