Recent News
Landlord Liable for a Tragic “Freak” Flood Drowning
“Nature has the ability to spring a surprise when least expected” (extract from the judgment below) A recent High Court decision dealing with the tragic drowning of a toddler highlights once again the legal dangers faced by property owners who let out accommodation to...
Employers: Beware the “Casual Worker” Myth!
Employees in South Africa enjoy strong protections under a raft of laws such as the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), the Labour Relations Act (LRA) and the Employment Equity Act (EEA). Failure to comply with these Acts, whilst perhaps tempting to many...
Companies: Are Restraints of Trade Valid in a Time of Covid?
“For him to be forced out of a career of choice to start working in a different field at a time when many businesses are closing down, retrenchments and lay-offs being commonplace and individual[s] doing everything possible to survive and cope with the health and...
Extended: The Rights of Grieving Parents to Choose Burial After Pregnancy Loss
Expectant parents who lose a pregnancy before 26 weeks (the age set by the Births and Deaths Registration Act (BADRA) in its definition of “still-born”) have until now had no right to bury their foetus, which had to be incinerated as “medical waste”. That has changed...
Your Website of the Month: Protecting Yourself and Your Business in Flu Season 2021
Flu season is upon us again, and it is not to be underestimated with between 7,000 and 12,000 flu-related deaths historically reported in South Africa every season. Whether or not this year’s lockdown precautions will reduce infection levels to the same extent that...
Who Gets the House on Divorce?
“I am a marvellous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house” (seven-times-divorced actress Zsa Zsa Gabor) Historically 44% of South African marriages have ended in divorce, and there has reportedly been a 20% surge in new divorce applications since...
Can an Employee Who Refuses Vaccination be Fired?
“This virus is unprecedented in our lifetime and requires an unprecedented response” (António Guterres, UN Secretary-General) Most of us will celebrate the day we are offered a COVID-19 vaccination, but here in South Africa as overseas it seems inevitable that a...
When Company Directors and Shareholders Come to Blows….
“…the mere exercise of majority shareholding voting rights does not amount to oppression…” (extract from judgment below) What happens when a company’s directors and shareholders fall out and cannot reconcile their differences? “Relief from oppressive or...
Domestic Workers and Employers: The New Injury and Illness Cover Explained
“Domestic employees” are now covered under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) and will now be entitled for compensation from the Compensation Fund in the event they are injured or contract diseases while on duty. The new benefits Note:...