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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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18
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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23
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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16
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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18
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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61
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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104
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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672
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. 

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693
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
18
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
23
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
16
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
18
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
61
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
104
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
672
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
693
Article
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GO
Filter: Litigation
Can I institute legal action on behalf of my body corporate?

07 June 2019

I live in a sectional title that used to have beautiful common property areas. The last year or two though,... owners have been causing damage to these garden areas and walkways and the body corporate is doing nothing to stop it. Can I take legal action against the owners that are causing the damage or can only the body corporate do something?

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496
Article
What print or font is too small for a contract?

07 June 2018

I recently bought a second-hand car from a local car dealership. Not long afterwards the car started giving me trouble.... When I took it back to the dealership, they said it was not their responsibility as the contract I had signed transferred all responsibility to me. They showed me the contract, but most of it was printed so small that I couldn’t even read it let alone understand it. Surely I should at least be able to read a contract to be bound by it?

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251
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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328
Article
What to do to privately prosecute?

10 February 2017

In 2016 my son was assaulted in ‘n bar, however the state decided not to prosecute the particular person. Lately... I’ve heard a lot in the news about private prosecution. How does it work?  

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189
Article
How to quieten that barking dog?

09 November 2016

My neighbour’s two dogs have been barking incessantly the last few days at all hours of the day and night.... My wife and I as well as our young toddler have been getting no sleep and its taking its toll on us personally and at work. Is there anything that we can do legally?

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245
Article
When will my petty theft record disappear?

09 November 2016

I have recently completed my tertiary education and I am now looking for work, but I can’t get any because... I have a criminal record. The record was for petty theft that I commited more than ten years ago and for which I received a R500 fine. Can my criminal record be removed?

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274
Article
Is it really farewell to that pesky salary attachment order?

07 October 2016

I have read a recent article that says that due to a recent court judgement, salary attachment orders are no... longer allowed. Is this correct and does that mean that the order against my salary is no longer valid?

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188
Article
Be extra careful with children in your care

07 July 2016

My son got hurt at school when a steel post holding a newly planted tree upright, punctured his leg while... he and his friends were playing on the school grounds. The school denies any negligence and feels that my son should have kept a sharper eye on possible dangers. Is the school liable, or is my son alone responsible for his damage and injuries?

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235
Article
Beware of the dangers of prescription

07 July 2016

I lent money to a business partner nearly 3 years ago when he was in a bit of financial trouble.... It wat not a massive amount, so I did not press him for the money. He recently won a big contract and I know things are going better with his business. When I asked him to pay back my loan, he refused and said that my claim had prescribed so there was nothing I could do and he was not going to pay it back. Surely this cannot be the case?

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344
Article
Limitation of the Right to Privacy on Social Media

11 April 2016

My business partner managed to get hold of my Facebook password without my knowledge. I’m unhappy with the running of... the business and have been talking to clients on Facebook about moving to a new business which I want to start. I never gave him my password and said the things on Facebook in private. Surely he can’t use this information?

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355
Article
Black or blue…? Or red for a bit of variety!

11 April 2016

I’ve often wondered if an agreement must be signed with black ink. What happens if it is signed with a... blue of even red or green pen? Is it invalid?

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321
Article
Divorcing a spouse living abroad

08 March 2016

My husband and I have been married for more than 10 years. Our marriage has deteriorated over the last few... years with my husband living abroad for more than two years now. I believe the time has come that we get divorced and continue with our lives separately, but I’m worried about how this will work with him not living in South Africa anymore?

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280
Article

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