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Your Website of the Month: How to Avoid Falling Victim to a “Tinder Swindler”

General Interest, Website of the Month / Law DotNews

“But love is blind, and lovers cannot see” (Shakespeare) Note: Please think of sharing this article with any family member, friend or colleague who might benefit from knowing which “red flags” to watch for when using dating apps and social media. Even if you haven’t yet watched the hit Netflix film “The Tinder Swindler”, you will […]

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Using the New Cybercrimes Act to Protect Yourself

Criminal Law / Crime, General Interest / Law DotNews

“…cybercrime has increased by over 300% during the COVID-19 pandemic – making it one of the biggest threats to businesses around the globe.” (Property 24 report) The Cybercrimes Act, which has been years in the making, is now (with effect from 1 December 2021) at last largely in force. Although some provisions still remain on

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South Africans – Don’t Lose Your Own Citizenship When You Apply for Another!

General Interest / Law DotNews

“… it cannot be said as the applicant suggests that the loss of citizenship takes place without notice and automatically as the citizen in that position has proper notice through the structure of the section of both the opportunity to seek consent to hold dual citizenship and the consequences of acquiring a second citizenship without

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Arrest and a Criminal Record for Not Wearing a Mask?

Criminal Law / Crime, General Interest / Law DotNews

“7,000 people have already been arrested for not wearing masks and most of them now have criminal records” (Police Minister Bheki Cele in mid-January) We all know that wearing a face mask is the right and the safe thing to do, but it is also a legal requirement – and it’s one that you really

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Is Your Will Valid?

Family Law, General Interest / Law DotNews

“Death knocks at all doors alike” (John Dunton 1692) Sooner or later we must leave our families to face life without us, and of course these are particularly dangerous times for us all. Make sure that your own affairs are in order now – A valid will is the only sure way to protect your loved ones

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Don’t Fall Victim to a Ponzi Scheme in 2021!

General Interest / Law DotNews

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” (wise old adage) 2021 could well be a bumper year for Ponzi schemes (and their equally evil cousins, pyramid schemes). They flourish in all countries and at all times, but with our pandemic-related economic woes and general disruption we will no doubt provide the

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Does Your Dog Bite? Your (Substantial) Risk Remains

Delict and Civil Claims, General Interest / Law DotNews

“People are entitled to walk our streets without having to fear being attacked by dogs and, where such attacks occur, they should in most circumstances be able to look to the owner of the dog for recompense” (extract from judgment below) Dog owners (in fact owners of any potentially dangerous domesticated animal) should take note

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Friends and Lovers: Before You Lend Out Your Car…

Contract, Family Law, General Interest / Law DotNews

“Neither a borrower nor a lender be” (Shakespeare) This is a case of a “love relationship” gone wrong but the principles of vehicle ownership apply to any situation in which you lend a motor vehicle to anyone else. A widely-held misconception is that if you are the registered owner of a car, it is yours

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Lockdown “Admission of Guilt” Fines – The Criminal Record Risk

Criminal Law / Crime, General Interest / Law DotNews

Breaking any of our lockdown laws can be an expensive business, risking heavy penalties. If you are accused of a contravention and offered the option of paying an “admission of guilt” fine to avoid a court appearance, beware! It may seem like the easy way out to pay up and put the whole thing behind

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Report Your Traffic Accident with an Online Reporting Service

General Interest, Road Traffic / Law DotNews

Traffic accidents, your fault or not, are traumatic affairs. Even minor dings come with their hassles – panel beaters, tow trucks, shock and recriminations, reams of paperwork, having to get a Crash Report Number for the insurers… That last bit has always been a major added stress factor, requiring a trip to the local police

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