Alcohol at Work: The Cough Mixture Defence

Alcohol at Work: The Cough Mixture Defence

“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…

The AARTO National Rollout has Been Delayed – But Beware of  Scams!
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The AARTO National Rollout has Been Delayed – But Beware of  Scams!

“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 has again been postponed, this time to July 2026. Speculation is that we now won’t see the demerit system implemented before the…

Selling Your House This Summer? Get Your Ducks in a Row With This Checklist

Selling Your House This Summer? Get Your Ducks in a Row With This Checklist

“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…

Parental Leave: Out With the Old, in With the New

Parental Leave: Out With the Old, in With the New

“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…

Wedding Bells? You Can Both Choose Your Own Surnames Now

Wedding Bells? You Can Both Choose Your Own Surnames Now

“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…

As 1 December Looms, Here’s What AARTO Means for Motorists and Employers
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As 1 December Looms, Here’s What AARTO Means for Motorists and Employers

“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…

When Liquidation is Inevitable: A Bad Faith Business Rescue Application Backfires
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When Liquidation is Inevitable: A Bad Faith Business Rescue Application Backfires

“If you’re flogging a dead horse, make sure you’re not riding it.” (Josh Stern) Creditors and company directors alike need to know how best to deal with a company in financial distress. Both should learn to recognise the difference between an enterprise that has failed beyond resuscitation, and one that, given a chance, can be…

Divorce Lawfare: The Serial Litigant and his Stalingrad Strategy

Divorce Lawfare: The Serial Litigant and his Stalingrad Strategy

“This [the Stalingrad Strategy] is a strategy of wearing down the plaintiff by tenaciously fighting anything the plaintiff presents by whatever means possible and appealing every ruling favourable to the plaintiff. Here, the defendant does not present a meritorious case. This tactic or strategy is named for the Russian city besieged by the Germans in…

Don’t Let Cybercriminals Haunt You this Halloween — Verify, Verify, Verify!
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Don’t Let Cybercriminals Haunt You this Halloween — Verify, Verify, Verify!

“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,…