Legal news and commentary from the offices of Simon Dippenaar
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 […]
Follow these 10 dos and don’ts for eviction and avoid litigation We often hear from clients: “I need to evict my tenant. But I’m worried I’ll be sued.” While we’re nothing like the US in terms of readiness to sue, society is becoming more litigious (which means “tending to take legal action to settle disputes”). […]
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 […]
Actor says playing role of abused wife gave her new insight and hardened her stance on the issue This is a shocking statistic: “…for every three months that lockdowns continue, an additional 15 million women around the world are expected to be affected by violence”. Nicole Kidman speaks out against gender-based violence after playing an […]
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 […]
A look at the key messages emerging from this year’s crime statistics Crime stats for South Africa were published last week by SAPS. Overall, reported crime decreased slightly, but violent crime, also referred to as contact crime, including murder, continued its upward trend. The statistics cover the period 1 April to 31 March, 2020, and […]
Melinda Gates speaks out about the need for leaders to take into account the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women, as we face the long, slow task of recovery. Reprinted from the Guardian, by Melinda Gates – 2020-07-15 ‘We get recovery if we get equality’ philanthropist argues in new paper urging policymakers to address unpaid […]
Whatever your views on the alcohol ban and curfew, this is the opinion on the potential constitutionality or otherwise of the latest lockdown regulations. It is unfortunate that the irresponsible actions of a minority have deprived the majority of South Africans, who have maturely observed the rules and patiently waited for each small concession, of […]