'Let's choose executors and talk of wills.' (William Shakespeare in Richard II) You may have read one of the many online articles about an electronic will being validated recently by the High Court. Don’t be misled into thinking that electronic wills are now valid as a matter of course - they most certainly are not. Unless and until our Wills Act is updated to say otherwise, not leaving a written and signed will complying with all the Act’s formalities exposes your grieving l

'My New Year’s resolution is to stop procrastinating. I’ll start tomorrow.' (Anonymous) Most New Year’s resolutions are vague, unwritten, and destined to be forgotten in the first week of January’s hustle and bustle. But please don’t neglect this Top Ten list of legal issues that we’ve put together for you. Focus on those that are important to you, taking a few minutes to write down exactly what action you’ll take under each heading. Then set and diarise realistic deadlines t

'I have heard that in war, haste can be folly, but have never seen delay that was wise.' (Sun Tzu, The Art of War) Collecting debt from a recalcitrant debtor can feel very much like going to war, particularly if you have to slog through the trenches of a series of increasingly costly court battles. Which is where Sun Tzu’s warning against delay comes into play because not starting collection in time could defeat your claim entirely. The reason of course is that debts - with o

'Raising kids is part joy and part guerilla warfare.' (Ed Asner, actor with a great sense of humour!) A game-changing judgment from our Constitutional Court sets out new rules for parental leave. The joy of becoming parents and a father’s leave dilemma The birth of a couple’s first child presented them with both a bundle of joy and a practical dilemma. Dad wanted to be the baby’s primary caregiver while his wife carried on running her two businesses, so he asked his employer

'The employer shall ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that all persons who may be directly affected by his activities are not thereby exposed to hazards to their health or safety.' (Occupational Health and Safety Act) The season of goodwill, holidays, celebrations and year-end functions is upon us once again. And with it comes a timely reminder to employers that, while their 'zero tolerance' alcohol-at-work policies may be key to maintaining health and safety in th

'Landlords grow rich in their sleep.' (John Stuart Mill, economist) If you are thinking of buying (or already own) a house or apartment in a residential complex with the idea of renting it out as an Airbnb (whether permanently or on an 'I can make a fortune this Christmas' basis), tread carefully. A recent High Court decision has signalled confirmation that your body corporate or homeowners’ association (HOA) can, within limits, regulate your right to do so. Residents vs Rent

'In the summertime, when the weather is high, you can stretch right up and touch the sky.' (Mungo Jerry) Summer’s here with its blue skies, happy holidaymakers from around the country and the world, and, as always, an upsurge in demand for houses. If you’re going to capitalise on this seasonal upswing, start planning your sales strategy now for selling your house with our simple, practical Seller’s Checklist below. Follow these 10 steps for a successful sale: 1. Ask yourself

'South African drivers, beware! Scammers are issuing fake traffic fines to catch you off guard! Always use AARTO approved collecting agents for your payments.' (Road Traffic Infringement Agency) The national rollout of AARTO ( Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences) has again been postponed, this time to July 2026. Speculation is that we now won’t see the demerit system implemented before the middle of 2027, but both dates remain provisional until gazetted. Non

'Forewarned is forearmed.' (Wise old proverb) Government keeps assuring us that the long-delayed AARTO (Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences) system will finally begin its full national rollout on 1 December 2025. Is this another false start or the real thing this time? There have been so many false starts to AARTO over the last fifteen years that many of us will no doubt take the attitude 'I’ll believe it when I see it'… Particularly with all the speculation

'A family name holds the music of generations - it’s the first inheritance we receive.' (Attributed to Irish poet-philosopher John O’Donohue) The Constitutional Court has just confirmed (with some significant adjustments) last year’s High Court ruling that both partners in a marriage have equal rights to choose their surname. Previously, a woman - and only a woman - could choose when marrying to take her spouse’s surname, or to retain her own surname, or to assume a double-ba

When it comes to buying or selling property, understanding the process of property transfer services is essential. This process involves several legal and administrative steps that ensure the ownership of a property is correctly and legally transferred from one party to another. Navigating this process can be complex, but with the right information and support, it becomes much more manageable. Property transfer services cover everything from preparing legal documents to regi

'There's no trust, no faith, no honesty in men.' (William Shakespeare, in Romeo and Juliet) A recent Labour Court decision is a stark reminder to employees that an employment relationship is founded on trust and that any breach of that trust could justify dismissal. Pocketing a 50c coin to balance her till The responsibilities of a bank teller included 'balancing cash daily, reporting differences, as well as maintaining effective security controls, including maintaining a hig

'If you suspect deceit, hit delete!' (Online cybersecurity slogan) October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a good time to note that as cybercrime continues to grow, more and more businesses and individuals are falling victim to the dreaded 'BEC' or 'Business Email Compromise' fraud. The million-dollar question: Who takes the hit? Typically in a BEC fraud, email or other electronic communications between a creditor and debtor (often a seller and buyer, or service provider an

' You must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which you can reasonably foresee would be likely to injure your neighbour.' (Lord Atkin in the groundbreaking 1932 House of Lords decision that found a soft drink manufacturer liable for a consumer’s shock and illness after she discovered a decomposed snail in the remains of her ginger beer.) A simple burger night turned into an ordeal for a diner who swallowed a 'needle-like object' hidden in her meal. The High Court

'Don’t wait to buy real estate. Buy real estate and wait.' (Will Rogers) Spring is in the air and, as the annual uptick in property sales kicks in, let’s address two questions commonly asked by both sellers and buyers who are unsure about exactly what happens after they sign their sale agreement: How does the transfer process work? How long does it take before the seller gets paid and the buyer becomes the new registered owner? Let’s begin with this simplified 'in a nutshell'

'You can't go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending.' (C.S. Lewis) Divorce is traumatic,...

' When cognitive capacities are the focus, the 70s are the new 50s.' (IMF) Fake news articles suggesting that South Africa was...

“In Africa there is a concept known as ‘ubuntu’ – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others.” (Nelson...

'All that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity.' (William Shakespeare, in Hamlet) Master’s Office records suggest that less...

'You aren’t buying a house, you’re buying a lifestyle.' (Anon) As more and more residential properties are subdivided and developed, an...