Believing someone to be guilty of a crime you call the police and have the suspect arrested, only to have the charges dropped. Can you be sued for defamation? A recent High Court case provides some answers. A fraudulent iPad order, an arrest and a R1.6m claim A government employee was, at the instigation
Reporting Crime and the Defamation Danger: Lessons from the Workplace Read More »
“… this is a matter of national security and… something of the order of 450,000 gun owners with their expired licences form part of this equation… in a country riddled with crime…” (Extracts from judgment below) Possession of an unlicensed firearm is, for good reason, a serious offence carrying heavy penalties, and law abiding citizens
Firearm Owners: What to Do if Your Licence Has Expired Read More »
“Every holiday season, as we drive ourselves crazy at the mall or shopping online, soaked in the existential dread that comes from trying to find gifts our loved ones might appreciate, I think of the great writer and social critic James Baldwin, who wrote: ‘If the hope of giving/is to love the living,/the giver risks
Websites of the Month: The Existential Dread of Gift Giving, and Science to the Rescue! Read More »
“I never married because there was no need. I have three pets at home which answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog which growls every morning, a parrot which swears all afternoon, and a cat that comes home late at night” (Marie Corelli, English novelist) Residential complexes and estates are becoming
Once again November is upon us, and no doubt employees around the country are starting to dream of all the good things they can do with that “Christmas” bonus coming their way. If you are one of them perhaps you plan to pay off debt or to re-charge the family’s batteries with a special holiday.
It’s “13th Cheque” Time Again: Must You Pay Annual Bonuses? Read More »
“To my mind the best proof of solvency is that a man should pay his debts” (quoted in the judgment below) If you are owed maintenance you have a variety of enforcement options open to you and should ask your lawyer for advice on which is the best for your particular claim and circumstances. A
When is a Debtor “Insolvent”? A Case of Arrear Maintenance Illustrates Read More »
“Ignorance of the law is no excuse” (old Roman law principle applied in many legal systems worldwide) Whether you travel abroad on business or on holiday, ignorance of local laws can easily land you in a situation where your protestations of “But I had no idea that that is illegal here, it’s totally legal in
No doubt we are in for at least a year or two of difficult economic conditions, but small businesses have one important advantage over larger competitors – their size keeps them agile. That means they can adapt more quickly to changing conditions, which in turn puts them in pole position to grasp the many opportunities
Your Website of the Month: 6 Ways for Your SME to Survive the Recession Read More »
“Honesty is the best policy” (Benjamin Franklin) A recent High Court decision again confirms that when it comes to selling your house, honesty is indeed the best policy. Specifically, disclose all defects you know of to potential buyers, or risk expensive litigation and damages claims. Defects and Defences The buyers of a house, who
The media has been awash with reports (sometimes conflicting, often vague) of what the recent Constitutional Court ruling actually means in practice. Whether you agree with the ruling or not, and whether or not you personally have ever had (or intend to have) anything to do with cannabis/marijuana/weed/dagga, we all need to be aware of
