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Suretyship vs Guarantee. What’s the difference?

02 May 2024

In this article, we look at two primary forms of security commonly found in financial transactions, namely suretyship agreements and... guarantees, and explain the difference between these two forms of security.

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1
Article

Leave to Appeal vs Special Leave to Appeal

02 May 2024

On 4 April 2024 in the matter of Savannah Country Estate Homeowners Association v Zero Plus Trading 194 (Pty) Ltd... and Others (773/2022) [2024] ZASCA 40, our Supreme Court of Appeal (“SCA”) had to address the important difference between an application for leave to appeal and an application for special leave to appeal. In this article, we analyse the SCA’s views in this regard.

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4
Article

Can Landlords unilaterally charge for additional services?

02 May 2024

The relationship between landlord and tenant can be a complex one fraught with dangers for a careless landlord. In this... article, we explore whether a landlord can provide additional value-added services to its tenants beyond the scope of what is outlined in the lease agreement and then unilaterally charge extra for such services or remove existing services without consequence.

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1
Article

Blazing changes in the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill

24 April 2024

In early April 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill.  

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2
Article

Can a Homeowners Association take over refuse removal from a local authority?

27 March 2024

With many local authorities struggling to provide municipal services to residents, a key question that arose in a recent case... was whether a Homeowners Association was entitled to take over the function of refuse removal from the local authority and whether the local authority was still entitled to charge for refuse removal.

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48
Article

What to expect from the new draft Employment Equity Act Regulations

27 March 2024

The Employment Equity Amendment Act 4 of 2022 (“Amendment Act”) was introduced in April 2023 but the commencement date has... yet to be promulgated. To address the sectoral numerical targets provided for in the Amendment Act, new draft regulations were issued for comment on 1 February 2024 (“Draft Regulations”). In this article we take a look at the draft regulations and what they mean for employers.

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81
Article

How liable is an owner for damage caused by animals?

26 March 2024

One has often read about owners being held liable for a dog attack on a person, but what about an... animal on the road which ends up causing an accident? Can the owner be held liable for the resulting damage?

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651
Article

To click or to ink? Are electronically signed sale of property agreements valid in SA?

26 March 2024

In the current digital era, the use of electronic signatures has substantially increased, reshaping traditional practices with their convenience and... efficiency. From large corporations to small businesses, organisations are embracing electronic signatures to streamline processes and adapt to a digital business landscape. This article explores the validity of electronic signatures and specifically how it affects the validity of a sale of property agreement. 

READ MORE
666
Article

Suretyship vs Guarantee. What’s the difference?

02 May 2024

In this article, we look at two primary forms of security commonly found in financial transactions, namely suretyship agreements and... guarantees, and explain the difference between these two forms of security.

READ MORE
1
Article

Leave to Appeal vs Special Leave to Appeal

02 May 2024

On 4 April 2024 in the matter of Savannah Country Estate Homeowners Association v Zero Plus Trading 194 (Pty) Ltd... and Others (773/2022) [2024] ZASCA 40, our Supreme Court of Appeal (“SCA”) had to address the important difference between an application for leave to appeal and an application for special leave to appeal. In this article, we analyse the SCA’s views in this regard.

READ MORE
4
Article

Can Landlords unilaterally charge for additional services?

02 May 2024

The relationship between landlord and tenant can be a complex one fraught with dangers for a careless landlord. In this... article, we explore whether a landlord can provide additional value-added services to its tenants beyond the scope of what is outlined in the lease agreement and then unilaterally charge extra for such services or remove existing services without consequence.

READ MORE
1
Article

Blazing changes in the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill

24 April 2024

In early April 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill.  

READ MORE
2
Article

Can a Homeowners Association take over refuse removal from a local authority?

27 March 2024

With many local authorities struggling to provide municipal services to residents, a key question that arose in a recent case... was whether a Homeowners Association was entitled to take over the function of refuse removal from the local authority and whether the local authority was still entitled to charge for refuse removal.

READ MORE
48
Article

What to expect from the new draft Employment Equity Act Regulations

27 March 2024

The Employment Equity Amendment Act 4 of 2022 (“Amendment Act”) was introduced in April 2023 but the commencement date has... yet to be promulgated. To address the sectoral numerical targets provided for in the Amendment Act, new draft regulations were issued for comment on 1 February 2024 (“Draft Regulations”). In this article we take a look at the draft regulations and what they mean for employers.

READ MORE
81
Article

How liable is an owner for damage caused by animals?

26 March 2024

One has often read about owners being held liable for a dog attack on a person, but what about an... animal on the road which ends up causing an accident? Can the owner be held liable for the resulting damage?

READ MORE
651
Article

To click or to ink? Are electronically signed sale of property agreements valid in SA?

26 March 2024

In the current digital era, the use of electronic signatures has substantially increased, reshaping traditional practices with their convenience and... efficiency. From large corporations to small businesses, organisations are embracing electronic signatures to streamline processes and adapt to a digital business landscape. This article explores the validity of electronic signatures and specifically how it affects the validity of a sale of property agreement. 

READ MORE
666
Article
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Filter: Family
Can an unmarried father register a child under his surname?

15 November 2021

I’m the father of a newborn daughter. The mother, to whom I’m not married, disappeared immediately after birth leaving me... as sole parent of my daughter. Because I don’t know where the mother is I cannot get the mother’s consent. Without this consent Home Affairs does not want to register my daughter under my surname. I have no idea what to do now. Can you help?

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301
Article
Is spanking your child unlawful?

08 March 2018

I saw it reported in the news recently that spanking your child has finally been criminalised. Is this true? Will... this not result in overloading our justice system even more than it already is?

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326
Article
Pension interest and divorce

14 December 2016

I’ve been married for 20 years, but my marriage is in trouble and I’m facing the very real possibility that... I may get divorced soon. My husband has a good pension that we’ve planned to use for our retirement, and I am worried that I will not be entitled to any share of that should we get divorced because we are married out of community of property with the accrual? Will this be the case?

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339
Article
Can my husband also be my business partner?

12 September 2016

My husband and I are married out of community of property and without the accrual. For the last ten years... we have both worked together in our family business. Due to health reasons, my involvement in the business is becoming less. Our marriage is also upon difficult times, and I am concerned that should we end up in a divorce, whether I would be entitled to share in the profits of the business which we have built up together.

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236
Article
Can my child become an Aussie without daddy’s consent?

02 June 2016

I am recently divorced. I want to permanently relocate to Australia with my two minor children as I have obtained... a wonderful work opportunity which will benefit myself and my children tremendously. However, my ex, the father of my two children, refuses to give his consent, despite the fact that the children reside with me. Do I need his consent to take them with me?

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311
Article
Can I inherit if not formally adopted?

13 October 2015

I have been raised as the only child by parents who are not my biological parents. Although I regard them... as my true parents, I was never formally adopted by them. They are both in ill-health and I don’t think they have a will. They don’t have much, but I am concerned that if they die I will lose the possessions that they do have. Will I be able to inherit from them when they pass away?

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211
Article
When are you legally married?

13 October 2015

My husband and I got married 11 years ago. I now want to get divorced, but according to the Department... of Home Affairs we have never been married as they cannot find any marriage certificate. How is that possible? Did the minister not register it? What now? 

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286
Article
Can you change your matrimonial property system?

08 September 2015

My husband and I were married in community of property many years ago. We now however feel that it would... be better for the management of our family and separate business interests if we were rather married out of community of property. Can we change our marriage system to out of community of property?

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212
Article
New fathers – are they entitled to maternity leave?

06 August 2015

My partner and I, a couple in a registered civil union, are planning to have a baby, either through a... surrogate or adoption. While this is very exciting, it is also stressful as there will be no traditional mother figure for the baby to bond with in the first few months, and both my partner and I have full time employment. Would either my partner or I qualify for ‘maternity leave’?

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295
Article
Be wise and review your will regularly

16 July 2015

I have a will which my wife and I had jointly drawn up by a friend just after we were... married. I think the will is still ok, but I am not sure. We have three children now and I’m worried what will happen to them should my wife and I pass away or even be divorced. Should I let someone have a look at my will?

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250
Article
My mother’s sick. Can I manage her personal affairs?

15 July 2015

My mother has been living with Alzheimer’s for a number of years. She has always been very independent and insisted... on managing her own affairs even after my father passed away. Unfortunately of late, she has deteriorated very badly, to the point where I am very concerned about her financial situation and her care. I know my father left her some money, and I want to make sure that this money is correctly used for her care. But am I allowed to take over control of her affairs? 

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186
Article
Does a child have a voice in its parents’ legal battle?

14 April 2015

It is often said “parents know best” - but when parents become embroiled in litigation against each other and children... are involved, it can become very difficult for them to set their own interests aside and allow the interests of the child to take preference over their own. This also raises the question of whether a child involved in such a situation, has a voice and a say in decisions being made.  

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308
Article

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