“Live each day as if it were your last… because one day, you’ll be right.” (Benny Hill) It’s always tempting to procrastinate about decisions that force us to address the inevitability of our own mortality. But we have no choice when it comes to protecting our loved ones after we are gone, because to protect …
How to Protect Your Children’s Inheritances from Ending Up in the Guardian’s Fund Read More
“No alienation of land … shall … be of any force or effect unless it is contained in a deed of alienation signed by the parties thereto or by their agents acting on their written authority.” (Alienation of Land Act) Ensure that all the important terms of your sale agreement are recorded in writing and signed. Leave …
Leaving Anything Important Out of Your Property Sale Agreement Will Sink It Read More
“Look before you leap” (wise old proverb) Don’t let the excitement of buying a property blind you to the necessity of doing your homework before you agree to anything. Look before you leap! It’s not just a matter of buying the right property at the right price – make sure that your finances (and particularly your cash …
Property Buyers: The Danger of Not Doing Your Financial Homework Read More
…an employer may not require or permit an employee to work … overtime except in accordance with an agreement” (Basic Conditions of Employment Act) All employers and employees need to know of a recent Labour Court judgment holding that an instruction to work overtime in the absence of an agreement is unlawful. A lapsed overtime …
“We have this handy fusion reactor in the sky called the sun; you don’t have to do anything, it just works. It shows up every day” (Elon Musk) Eskom’s no-end-in-sight loadshedding, rising electricity costs, South Africa’s abundance of sunshine, and the global move to sustainable energy solutions have all contributed to the current boom in …
Installing Home Solar – How to Comply with the Regulatory Requirements Read More
“The approval of building plans is not a mere formality in town planning and compliance with building standards promote public safety … The courts should not permit landowners to erect illegal structures on their land and then present the authorities with a fait accompli created by their illegal actions” (Extracts from judgment below) What do …
Neighbours Behaving Badly: Illegal Buildings and Demolition Orders Read More
“Owning one’s own business is an adventure – enjoy it every step of the way.”(From the SME Toolkit article referenced below) First, three questions to ask yourself… If you dream of going into business for your own account in 2023, ask yourself these questions before you get started – We set out below some brief …
New Year, New Business – How to Pick the Right Legal Entity for it Read More
December and January have always been prime months for selling residential property in South Africa, and if you are a “Festive Season Seller”, here are two really important tips for you. How does CGT on a property sale work? This is a complex topic, so what follows is of necessity a summary of general principles …
Selling Property this Festive Season: The Tax Angle Read More
“I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” (Douglas Adams) Here’s yet another reminder from our courts on the danger of not complying strictly with every provision in a property sale agreement. Don’t be like Douglas Adams and listen to the deadlines go whooshing by – missing a property …
“… had the respondent imposed more moderate penalties, it would likely not have had the desired effect, or put differently, the same persuasive sting for individuals of substantial means.” (Extract from judgment below). Buying “plot and plan” in a residential complex allows you the freedom to build your own dream house in a secure environment, …
Building in Security Estates: The ‘Persuasive Sting’ of Penalty Levies Read More
