Protecting children’s best interests Couples are encouraged to make a will when they marry, and to keep that will up to date. It is particularly important to amend the will on the birth of children, not only to specify the financial arrangements for their care should the worst happen, but also to appoint a legal […]
Open justice is a fundamental right In a democratic society, justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. The right of the public to scrutinise and understand the workings of the law is a key principle of our constitutional framework. Transparency and accountability build trust and confidence in the justice […]
Know your rights around these seasonal hurdles As predictable as tourists in Cape Town, roadblocks are a festive season feature. Recently, an email has made the rounds advising recipients to check their traffic fines and pay them to avoid being arrested in a roadblock. There is a lot of misinformation in circulation about this topic, […]
South Africa is not immune from human trafficking Human trafficking is an all-too-common occurrence in the modern world. Musician Sean “Diddy” Combs currently faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering in New York, and two people in Glasgow have been arrested in connection with human trafficking offences just recently. Here in South Africa, kidnapping and […]
Domestic or intimate partner violence doesn’t always end on divorce We hear a lot about high-conflict divorce. We hear less about post-divorce violence, or post-separation abuse, to use the common nomenclature in the psychological literature. It does not differentiate between married and unmarried couples. Many family law experts believe describing a divorce as “high-conflict” often […]
Why confidentiality matters One of the pillars of democracy is a free press. We discussed the importance of access to information recently. In an open society, we take access to information for granted, and journalists tend to be respected. A principle of ethical journalism is confidentiality, and the protection of confidential sources is a widely […]
Can a parent be held criminally liable for their child’s crime in South Africa? Earlier this year, Jennifer and James Crumbley became the first parents in US history to be convicted of involuntary manslaughter for a mass shooting committed by their child. They were each sentenced to 10–15 years in prison, the maximum penalty for […]
The importance of access to information As South Africans, we live in a democratic society and we take access to information for granted. While we may sometimes experience frustration with government obfuscation, most people agree that we have the right to be informed and we have the means to access that information, such as our […]
Cybercriminals are finding new ways to scam and con you Remember those halcyon days when the biggest consequence of having a cell phone stolen was the inconvenience and the potential loss of your photos and contacts? It’s hard to believe that was only around 10 years ago. If your phone is stolen now, the damage […]
Environmental crime is more than just poaching How often do you think about the environment? With the global increase in climate-related events, such as the recent catastrophic floods in Spain, the answer might be “quite a lot”. But you probably don’t think of the environment in terms of crime. In fact, environmental matters are highly […]
Reprinted from Mondaq.com, by Mtho Maphumulo – 2024-10-22 Cybercrime remains rife, despite the efforts to combat it. In a recent court case, the court reaffirmed the legal position as to who bears responsibility for payment… Cybercrime remains rife, despite the efforts to combat it. In a recent court case, the court reaffirmed the legal position […]
Know your rights Weeks after the first Olympic Games in history to achieve gender parity and some stellar performances by women athletes in Paris, the world was shocked by the death of Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who was set alight by her boyfriend in Endebess, Kenya. Cheptegei is the fourth female athlete to be […]
