Legal news and commentary from the offices of Simon Dippenaar
Alcohol harm is damaging our society. Activists working with gender-based violence call on provincial liquor boards to do more and put forward some recommendations, in this article from the Mail & Guardian. Reprinted from the Mail & Guardian, by Dean Peacock, Zia Wasserman, Dumisani Rebombo, Sidwell Sehoanea – 2022-08-14 Too many of us now know […]
Reprinted from Mondaq, by Aslam Moosajeeand Shenaaz Munga – 2022-08-03 On 28 June 2022, the Constitutional Court, in Women’s Legal Centre Trust v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others, held that the non-recognition of Muslim marriages infringes upon the rights of Muslim women and their children to dignity, equality, access to courts and the best interests […]
Children should not have to make the claim for themselves, says Supreme Court of Appeal Reprinted from GroundUp, by Tania Broughton – 2022-07-21 A parent can claim maintenance for adult dependent children from the other parent upon divorce, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has ruled. The judgment, penned by Acting Judge Pieter Meyer (with […]
Why you need to appoint a legal guardian for your children in your will If you have children, you need a will. If you die without a will, this is known as dying intestate or in a state of intestacy. Nearly 75% of South Africans die without having a valid will. If this happens, your […]
The Children’s Act allows children to be relocated after divorce – but only with consent The mid-year school break and winter holiday is nearly upon us. For divorced families it can be a stressful time. One or other parent may wish to take the child or children away on holiday, either to another South African […]
Attorneys are flocking to the crypto industry as it matures and manages its regulatory obligations In the US, the crypto currency industry is ramping up its legal presence, poaching attorneys from law firms and other crypto companies, according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal. We see this as good news for the […]
Reprinted from Business Tech – 2022-05-12 The Pretoria High Court on Wednesday (11 May) ruled that a part of South Africa’s Divorce Act is unconstitutional, setting up major changes for how divorces are handled when couples are married out community of property in the country. The court judgement declared that Section 7(3)(a) of the Divorce […]
Reprinted from the Guardian, by Anna Moore – 2022-05-09 Can men who assault or intimidate their partners be taught to respect women? We talk to campaigners and perpetrators – and sit in on one of their classes In this Zoom call, four men are looking at a list of family duties and marking which they […]
We take a closer look Land reform is a much-debated issue in South Africa. No one (well, almost no one) disputes the urgent need to right some of the wrongs of the past regarding land ownership, to advance transformation. However, the ways and means of achieving this reform are not always full agreed upon. We’ve […]
Which billing method is better for you? Professional services are commonly billed by the hour, but a flat fee arrangement is also in practice. When you visit your GP, you are usually charged a consultation fee, regardless of the actual time you spend with the doctor. Theoretically, the longer the consultation, the better value it […]
What is the Hague Convention and what does it do? You might have heard of the Hague Convention but you’re not sure what it is. If you have children, particularly if their other parent is not South African and/or you are divorced, it may at some point become relevant to you. The International Hague Convention […]
Addicted parents – balancing rights with responsibilities With every right comes a responsibility. In no sphere of life is this more true than when it comes to parenting. Do parents have a right to see their children? Yes, they do. But the rights and best interests of the child take precedence. There are circumstances in […]