Legal news and commentary from the offices of Simon Dippenaar
Nurses hesitant to vaccinate children without parental consent, saying ‘They’re way too young’ Although there are some who are unsure about whether or not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, data shows that vaccination against the disease reduces the risk of becoming seriously ill if one is infected. Furthermore, while the vaccine does not guarantee 100% […]
Is mandatory vaccination constitutional? Are you vaccinated against COVID-19? While we all long for the national state of disaster to finally be lifted and life to get back to normal, and vaccines are the only viable way for that to happen without a long wait for the virus to exhaust itself, many people still have […]
COVID-19 has set back gender equality by 25 years South Africa celebrates national Women’s Day on 9th August every year, not to be confused with International Women’s Day on 8th March. It’s interesting to note that the date of 8th March was chosen because it marks the day when women in Soviet Russia began protesting […]
What you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine The government announced on Friday (16 April) that the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) is open for those over the age of 60. Vaccination of healthcare workers is ongoing and, though incomplete, will continue concurrently with the next phase of the roll-out. Registration is underway, but […]
What is permitted under the new, “adjusted” Alert Level 1 It’s hard to keep up. The regulations for each Alert Level seem to vary each time a level is announced. Adjusted Level 3 was not the same as Level 3 first time round, and the same appears to hold true for Adjusted Level 1. So […]
Reprinted from Business Insider SA – 2021-02-01 You may have listened to the President’s speech or you may have heard the news elsewhere, but as lawyers we’re very fond of the notion of “the avoidance of doubt”. So, to that end, here is the lowdown on the re-adjusted Alert Level 3 rules as featured in Business […]
We know the police have a hard job to do at the moment. They are trained to fight crime, not to be public health guardians and patrol our streets after lights-out like a hall monitor. We know they are trying their best to act in the public interest, but it seems a little discretion and […]
President Ramaphosa extends Alert Level 3 and announces new measures to combat “second pandemic” of GBV and femicide The President’s speech on 11 January, coming just two weeks after he announced a return to Alert Level 3, albeit “adjusted”, harboured few surprises. Some might have hoped for an end to the alcohol ban, but it […]
The power of social media is immense. So much more than a mere communication tool, it’s a cornerstone of citizen journalism and can be one of the most effective ways in which ordinary people can tell important stories as they happen. What’s more, content posted on social media can be the grounds for legal action […]
We have covered the COVID-19 pandemic, as it relates to South Africa and the issues that concern South Africans, since the lockdown was first announced on March 27th. We have reported on gender-based violence, the alcohol ban, evictions, and the overall impact on economic prosperity. This report from UNDP on the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 […]
What is the state of play regarding evictions? Hurrah! We made it to Alert Level 2! The drinkers and smokers will be particularly happy, but so will the gym-goers, those with family in another province, everyone who wants to see their friends, and…landlords. Landlords? Not so fast. There is some relaxation of the rules governing […]
What has COVID-19 shown us about women and leadership? Women’s Day in South Africa commemorates, as everyone knows, the historic march on the Union Buildings in 1956 by 20,000 women in protest against the discriminatory pass laws of the day. The march, which was entirely peaceful and included half an hour of standing in complete […]
