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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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45
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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70
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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638
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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657
Article

Safeguarding your legacy for your children

26 March 2024

For any parent, the question of how to protect and provide for their children after their passing is a burning... concern that arises long before the first child is born. In this article, we explore how parents can safeguard their legacy for their children.

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703
Article

AI Rights vs Human Rights

20 March 2024

The age of artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the world’s ground-breaking developments, and powerful enough to transform and advance... the entire world. However, the excitement of AI being an incredible tool must not overshadow the actual humans and their rights that must still be protected in the era of AI.  

READ MORE
40
Article

How far does employer liability for the actions of its employee extend?

22 February 2024

It is relatively well-known that employers can be held liable for the conduct of their employees. What is generally less... well-understood is the scope of this liability. For example, can an employer be liable for the conduct of an employee even while on sick leave? In this article, we take a look at an employer’s vicarious liability and how far this liability may extend.

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68
Article

Construction Contracts: Is it a “one-size-fits-all” decision?

22 February 2024

Clients often have very different perceptions about the necessity and type of contract they may need for their construction contract.... Surprisingly, even with large development projects, there is often the view that if you have the quote and designs, why then bother with a contract? In this article, we provide some guidance on the various types of construction contracts that can be considered for a building project, large or small.

READ MORE
68
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
45
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
70
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
638
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
657
Article

Safeguarding your legacy for your children

26 March 2024

For any parent, the question of how to protect and provide for their children after their passing is a burning... concern that arises long before the first child is born. In this article, we explore how parents can safeguard their legacy for their children.

READ MORE
703
Article

AI Rights vs Human Rights

20 March 2024

The age of artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the world’s ground-breaking developments, and powerful enough to transform and advance... the entire world. However, the excitement of AI being an incredible tool must not overshadow the actual humans and their rights that must still be protected in the era of AI.  

READ MORE
40
Article

How far does employer liability for the actions of its employee extend?

22 February 2024

It is relatively well-known that employers can be held liable for the conduct of their employees. What is generally less... well-understood is the scope of this liability. For example, can an employer be liable for the conduct of an employee even while on sick leave? In this article, we take a look at an employer’s vicarious liability and how far this liability may extend.

READ MORE
68
Article

Construction Contracts: Is it a “one-size-fits-all” decision?

22 February 2024

Clients often have very different perceptions about the necessity and type of contract they may need for their construction contract.... Surprisingly, even with large development projects, there is often the view that if you have the quote and designs, why then bother with a contract? In this article, we provide some guidance on the various types of construction contracts that can be considered for a building project, large or small.

READ MORE
68
Article
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Filter: Construction
Don’t get caught napping with a time-bar clause in your construction contract

07 March 2023

Clients are often surprised when they discover clauses in their construction contract that requires them to give notice to the... building contractor, usually within very short periods of time, of their intention to dispute a set of circumstances, failing which, they lose their right to refer such a dispute for dispute resolution. This then raises the question of why these clauses are present and how enforceable they are.

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474
Article
The importance of mediation, adjudication and arbitration in construction disputes

20 October 2022

Parties to construction projects easily get nervous when they see provisions in the agreement that demand that disputes be referred... to mediation and/or arbitration. Why have these provisions, and do they water down the enforcement of their rights? In this article, we unpack why clauses such as these have become the norm in the construction industry and should be welcomed.

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589
Article
How conditional is a performance guarantee?

15 November 2021

Our company recently had to provide a performance guarantee to guarantee work we have to do on a large civil... project we have been contracted for. There have been a number of labour and environmental issues which have affected our ability to deliver with the contracted timeframes on the work, and the client is threatening to enforce our performance bond. Surely, this enforcement of the bond must be subject to reasonableness?

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403
Article
What Covid tax relief measures can my company qualify for?

06 January 2021

I have a construction company which has been hard hit by the Covid-pandemic and although I have managed to keep... our doors open and not retrench my employees, we are in dire straits. I understand that there are some tax relief measures which I can access to assist my company. Is this true?

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380
Article
Can a body corporate institute action against the sectional title developer?

10 November 2020

In our sectional title scheme, it has become clear that many of the structures on the common property have been... poorly built and are defective. However, the body corporate is uncertain whether it can take action against the developer for these defects and accordingly nothing is happening. Surely the body corporate should be able to do something?

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326
Article
Can a close corporation go under business rescue?

10 June 2020

I have a construction business that is operated in a close corporation. As we have not had much work during... the last few months, my business has come under severe financial pressure. I still believe in the business and know things will pick up again, but right now we just don’t have the cashflow to pay our creditors. I’m considering business rescue but am unsure whether that option is available seeing as my business is a close corporation?

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269
Article
When to register your BEE transaction with the B-BBEE Commission

15 May 2018

I have a medium-sized construction business. We recently had our BEE partner buy a stake in our business. I’ve heard... that you are now required to register your BEE transactions with the new B-BBEE Commission. Is this correct and will I have to register our transaction?

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340
Article
A strange thing called servitude

09 June 2017

I applied to my municipality to have the building plans for the extension of my garage approved. The municipality rejected... my proposed extension on the grounds that it would be constructed over a servitude registered against my title deed in favour of the municipality. What is a servitude? Can I have it removed?

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276
Article
Capital gains tax paid on monies not received? What can you do?

09 June 2017

I have a few investment properties in my property company. One such property I purchased in 2002 for R200,000 and... subsequently sold in 2013 for R3,500,000. My company paid income tax on the capital gain as though I received the full R3,500,000. However by 2016 I had only received R1,500,000 when the other party fell bankrupt, leaving me without the full purchase price. SARS refuses to pay back the amount I overpaid, and I now have a huge capital loss in the company. Is there anything I can do?

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215
Article
Small construction companies and the amended Construction Charter

08 May 2017

I own a small building contractor business. BEE is becoming increasingly important for my business. I understand that the Revised... Construction Sector BEE Codes provide an opportunity for a small construction business to be exempted from BEE. Is this correct? If so, what must I do to qualify for the exemption?

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240
Article
Is a time bar clause in a contract enforceable?

05 April 2017

My company concluded a contract with a supply company to supply us with imported tiles. Given their reasonable price we... bought a large shipment of the tiles. About 9 months later we discovered that a large number of the tiles were broken. We approached the supply company to replace the tiles, but they refused stating that our contract states that we had to notify them of any defects or damage in the tiles within 6 months of delivery. Surely they can’t rely on such a clause when they in fact delivered broken tiles?

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260
Article
Implications of the new Construction BEE Charter on construction material suppliers

05 April 2017

My company supplies construction materials and in the past I have always been verified under the general BEE Codes with... my BEE verification. Will this still be the case in terms of the new Construction BEE Charter? If not, what effect will this have on my business?

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305
Article

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