Predatory lending and safeguards in the National Credit Act
Our director Matthew Thomson recently spoke with business and finance journalist Fiona Zerbst of JustMoney on the subject of predatory lending and the safeguards of the National Credit Act. JustMoney’s article is available at: https://www.justmoney.co.za/articles/how-to-identify-predatory-lenders/ and below: How to identify predatory lenders Disreputable, or predatory, lenders can trap you in an unsustainable debt cycle. We more...
Tax Judgments: What are they? What do I need to know?
A debt is legally enforceable when it is made an order of court. Chapter 11 of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011 regulates the recovery of tax by SARS. Part B thereof relates to the civil judgment procedure. Section 172 of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011 (“TAA”) allows SARS to obtain civil more...
Con Court Sets the Record Straight: Tax judgments can be rescinded
If a taxpayer owes money to SARS and does not pay, SARS may file a certified statement with a competent court, which will be “treated as a civil judgment” (section 174 of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011 (“TAA”)). Recently the Constitutional Court finally set the record straight in Barnard Labuschagne Incorporated v South more...
Judicial redress in contracts: a balancing act
On 5 November 2019, Beadica 231 CC and Others v Trustees for the time being of Oregon Trust and Others (CCT109/2019) was before the Constitutional Court. This case made its way up, starting in the Western Cape High Court, then to the Supreme Court of Appeal (“SCA”), and finally, to the Constitutional Court. The judgment more...
COVID-19 and Business Rescue: Where to start?
The lockdown and subsequent alert level restrictions brought on by by the covid-19 pandemic and Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma’s regulations in terms of Section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, hindered and restrained the trading and operation of business entities across South Africa. While the regulations have been more...
Leases in Lockdown: Are we liable to pay rent?
A legal issue receiving almost constant attention since the lockdown commenced is the liability of commercial tenants for rental of their business premises during the Lockdown (including the more relaxed Alert Levels). There are many factors which have affected our advice, namely the terms of the lease agreement, as well as the nature and operation more...
Airbnb Guests Risk More Than Cabin Fever
Airbnb hosts and guests be warned: changes in the Regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 may put a mark on your criminal record. In a nutshell, the Regulations issued by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs expressly prohibit Airbnbs from being open to the more...
The ‘Lockdown’ on Contracts
The nationwide lockdown and regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act (“the Lockdown” and “the Regulations”) has resulted in a sudden and rapid release of legal articles setting out and explaining Lockdown’s impacts on a wide array of contracts. Over this period, we’ve found our clients asking similar questions and more...
Newsflash: Commercial Property Sector Unites Behind Rental Relief Measures for Retail Tenants
The Property Industry Group (PIG) give some relief to tenants who can accept their landlord’s offer to provide for any of the relief. It should also be noted that any acceptance of a landlord’s offer for a remission of rental, in accordance with the PIG’s relief package, should be considered against whether or not a landlord is entitled to rental at all. Tenants are not bound to accept these terms; however, once an election has been made, such decision is final, and any rights waived can likely not be revisited. We would therefore urge tenants to take proper advice, and to consider the full extent of their rights before accepting any such offers from landlords.
COVID-19: Law in a time of lockdown
As with all businesses, legal practitioners have been profoundly affected by the declaration of the COVID-19 National Disaster and the subsequent lockdown period. While we continue to provide advice, consulting and commercial services, the directives issued will have an effect on some litigious matters and the way matters are handled in court. On 17 and more...
COVID-19: Price gouging, panic buying and the spotlight on suppliers: the Minister of Trade and Industry has spoken
COVID-19: Price gouging, panic buying and the spotlight on suppliers: the Minister of Trade and Industry has spoken
COVID-19- a National State of Disaster: What do the regulations mean for me?
On 15 March 2020, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, declared a national state of disaster, citing special circumstances warranting such declaration in terms of Section 27(1) of the Act. Furthermore, Dr Mmaphaka Tau, in his capacity as the Head of the National Disaster Management Centre, classifying the COVID-19 more...