The New Law on Parental Leave – A Simple Summary for Employers and Employees

“The crux of the case is about unequal treatment of persons. (Extract from judgment below) The recent High Court judgment which declared unconstitutional differences between maternity, paternity, parental, adoption and surrogacy leave has received a lot of media attention, much of it focusing on the reasons for the decision – but what has actually changed

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real estate broker agent presenting and consult to customer to d

A Costly Case of Buyer’s Remorse

Property / Law DotNews

“Caveat subscriptor” – old legal maxim meaning “Let the signer beware!’ A recent High Court decision once again highlights the dangers of signing anything without reading, understanding and fully considering it. A “Renovator’s Dream” and a case of buyer’s remorse A couple viewed a house advertised as “a renovator’s dream” and they immediately decided to

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Buying a Used Car – Your Rights

Consumer Law / Law DotNews

“The buyer needs a hundred eyes, the seller but one” (Old proverb) You buy a “pre-loved” vehicle which turns out to be a complete dud. You go back to the dealership which says “sorry, you bought it as is, not our problem”. What are your rights? Buying from a private seller When we discuss the

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world map with a magnifying glass pointing at south africa. map

Selling Your House to a Non-Resident

Property / Law DotNews

“Oh, Im an alien, Im a legal alien” (Sting’s ‘Englishman in New York’) South Africa is attractive to overseas property buyers with our world-class lifestyle, depreciated Rand, strong property registration and legal systems, and minimal restrictions against non-resident property ownership. Which is of course great news for property sellers in any area popular with foreign

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wife and husband splitting children and house

How Does the New Divorce Act Ruling Affect You?

Family Law / Law DotNews

Media reports of the recent Constitutional Court decision holding a section of the Divorce Act unconstitutional and giving Parliament 24 months to remedy that haven’t always been clear about who needs to be aware of this, and who doesn’t. Firstly, understand the three “marital regimes” available to you Legally, marriage amounts to a binding contract,

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Security Warning: Property Sale Cybercrime Surges, and a New AI Danger

Property / Law DotNews

“The infectiousness of crime is like that of the plague” (Napoleon Bonaparte) This October marks the 20th anniversary of the globally observed “Cyber Security Awareness Month”, and with cybercrime continuing to surge, here’s a cautionary tale to bear in mind. You buy your dream house and pay the purchase price to the transferring attorneys (the conveyancers).

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Dementia: Understanding Your Legal Options

Family Law / Law DotNews

“Dementia is the plague of our time, the disease of the century” (Unattributed) Dementia is a widespread medical condition that affects people of all ages but particularly the elderly, and includes conditions like Alzheimers. One of the most significant challenges of dementia is the loss of mental capacity, making it difficult for individuals to make

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Suing for a Supermarket “Slip ‘n Trip” – What Must You Prove?

Delict and Civil Claims / Law DotNews

“The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger” (William Shakespeare) Tripping over aisle blockages or slipping on floors made slick by spillages can happen in even the best-managed supermarkets, and injured shoppers regularly turn to our courts to claim damages from shopkeepers and building owners. It’s no surprise therefore that this sort of claim

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Can a Video Call be a Valid Will?

Wills and Estate Planning / Law DotNews

“Death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate.” (Ambrose Bierce) It may well be that in the future, we will be able to make a perfectly valid will (“Last Will and Testament”) by way of a video recording or other electronic means, but that day has not yet arrived. For now,

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How to Protect Your Children’s Inheritances from Ending Up in the Guardian’s Fund

Wills and Estate Planning / Law DotNews

“Live each day as if it were your last… because one day, you’ll be right.” (Benny Hill) It’s always tempting to procrastinate about decisions that force us to address the inevitability of our own mortality. But we have no choice when it comes to protecting our loved ones after we are gone, because to protect

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