Legal news and commentary from the offices of Simon Dippenaar
Let 16 Days of Activism this year be the last you spend in an abusive relationship Abusive relationships take many forms. We have written about the dynamics of abusive relationships and the signs of abuse. Abuse may be physical, emotional/psychological (gaslighting, controlling you), sexual, financial (restricting your access to funds or your ability to work), […]
Robbery and burglary are used interchangeably but they have different meanings in law Have you ever had a break-in or home invasion? If so, you’re one of more than 1.1 million households that experienced housebreaking incidents in the 2022/23 period, according to Stats SA. But did you experience a robbery or a burglary? These terms […]
Know the signs of abuse and don’t be afraid to seek help Despite the many initiatives and campaigns over the years aimed at ending gender-based violence in South Africa, we still bear the unwanted title of “rape capital of the world”. A Google search for statistics on gender-based violence yields disturbing results: “Between 25% and […]
What the AI Safety Summit and the Bletchley Declaration mean for the future of AI Key Points: Generative AI and large language models (LLMs): Development of generative AI and the use of LLMs like ChatGPT have brought AI into the public spotlight AI risks include: Factual error (e.g., “hallucinations”, or made-up sources) Disinformation and manipulation […]
Should I stay or should I go? Recognising narcissistic personality disorder and making an informed choice about your relationship Even the healthiest of relationships have their challenges, because humans are complex creatures and our emotional states are not always in sync with our partner’s. If you suspect your partner is a narcissist your situation may […]
You could be forgiven for thinking an investment manager would be unlikely to fall for a crypto scam – but it happened, and this one lost nearly R7m. Crypto fraudsters are very clever. Be extremely careful when investing in crypto. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Reprinted from The Guardian, […]
High Court ruling spells changes to parental leave provisions in BCEA A landmark judgment was handed down by the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg within the last week, which heralds a significant change to the provisions for parental leave after the birth of a child in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of […]
Artificial intelligence complements but does not replace the lawyer’s job We’ve written a lot about artificial intelligence (AI) in recent months. We’re not alone. The internet is awash with articles and blog posts about AI. Some are informed and technically sound; others are purely opinions. Many are both! AI is new, though not as new […]
A fresh start for the real estate industry? Estate agents don’t have the best reputation. In most cases, this is unfair and undeserved. Many estate agents are hard-working and want to do the best job possible for their clients. Unfortunately, an unscrupulous minority has given the industry a bad name. Estate agents are often stereotyped […]
Benefits and obligations surrounding maintenance in a complex Sectional title schemes are very common in South Africa. If you live in a townhouse or apartment it is likely you occupy a sectional title scheme. There are many benefits to this type of ownership, not least security. Many complexes have their own social ecosystem, which can […]
Mental health is a universal human right Tuesday, 10 October, is World Mental Health Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set aside this day to ensure that mental health is valued, promoted, and protected. Urgent action needs to be taken to enable everyone to exercise their human rights and access the quality mental health […]
Why and how to vary a divorce order When you divorce, the divorce order is a final and non-negotiable legal document…or is it? Are there circumstances in which you might want to vary a divorce order? And is it allowed in law? The answer to both these questions is “yes”, but certain conditions apply. Divorce […]