Redefining Divorce Rights: Section 7(3) of the Divorce Act Struck Down by the Constitutional Court
In a significant legal development, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, on 10 October 2023, upheld a judgment from the High Court of Pretoria, declaring Section 7(3) of the Divorce Act as unconstitutional. This ruling has far-reaching implications for marriages entered before the commencement of the Matrimonial Property Act and has the potential to reshape […]
Maintenance and Children Not Born from a Marriage
Summary: It is undeniable that in the time and age we live in, more and more children are born out of wedlock, but how does this affect maintenance and responsibilities of the parents of children born out of wedlock, adopted children or children conceived by artificial fertilisation? In South Africa, our laws are clear that […]
Contractual Consequences of Breaking Off an Engagement
Contrary to popular belief, an engagement is not a mere social agreement. South African common law recognises an engagement (or promise to marry) as a contract from which some contractual remedies may flow. The engagement contract is, however, a contract sui generis (of its own kind). Therefore, it gives rise to certain contractual remedies. If […]
The Dos and Don’ts for Landlords Regarding the Rental Housing Act
In South Africa, the Rental Housing Act lays out important dos and don’ts for landlords. By adhering to these guidelines, landlords can maintain positive, lawful relationships with tenants, ensuring a fair and transparent renting experience for all parties involved. Landlords play a crucial role in providing safe and comfortable homes for tenants. In South Africa, […]
Antenuptial contracts: Can I get one after marriage?
Couples who are interested in an antenuptial contract often make the decision to get one before they are married. That is the ideal scenario. However, some couples may have already gotten married in community of property, and later decide to change to another form of marriage contract. Can it be done? The Matrimonial Property Act […]
Municipal debt invalid, the Constitutional Court has ruled
On 23 May 2017, the Constitutional Court heard an application for confirmation of an order of the High Court of South Africa, that declared section 118(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000, constitutionally invalid. On 29 August, in a ruling majority written by Justice Edwin Cameron, the court found that upon transfer of […]
Am I still protected without an employment contract
This article looks at the continued relevancy of the employment contract in legal practice today. In 2014, the legislator amended section 186(1)(a) of the Labour Relations Act, 66 of 1995 (LRA), which deals with unfair dismissals, by removing the words “contract of” within the definition, leaving only the word “employment”. This gives the idea that […]
Can trustees ban your pet in a sectional title scheme?
Problems around the ownership of pets are common amongst owners of sectional title properties, but while laws may be imposed by the trustees of the homeowners’ associations, the requirement for a reasonable approach is entrenched in the very laws which govern how a sectional title scheme should be managed. Where the trustees have reasonably, after […]
Cancelling a contract? The Do’s and Dont’s to consider!
Every person, whether an individual or a juristic person, will find themselves in a situation where they will want to terminate a contract. The aim of this article is to set out the requirements for terminating a contract as well as to give basic guidance when doing so. When a person wants to cancel a […]
Minimum wage increase
The Department of Labour released a media statement notifying trade unions about the wage increase. Once it becomes enacted as a law, no employee may be paid below the minimum wage, and trade unions are there to ensure that this law is upheld by the employer. South Africa’s labour market is largely characterised by high […]