News & Articles
Mindshift and trusts: Obtain good advice!
The word trust is often used quite loosely and in a variety of contexts. In this article we deal with the correct approach to considering the inclusion of a trust as part of your family’s estate planning. The type of trust discussed is accordingly a typical discretionary trust. In such a trust the trustees are the owners of the trust assets and manage such on behalf of the beneficiaries, and can, in their discretion, decide whether beneficiaries should receive benefits or not. Most family trusts are such discretionary trusts.
Tydelike werknemers en die boer. Hoe gaan die posisie verander?
Die boerderybedryf kan siklies van aard wees en dus is die gebruik van tydelike werkers om sikliese behoeftes aan te spreek ook ‘n algemene praktyk by baie boere. Voorgestelde wysigings tot ons huidige arbeidswetgewing, reeds in 2010 gepubliseer maar nog nie op die wetboeke nie, mag ‘n wesenlike impak op hierdie praktyke van boere hê en die speelveld rondom die gebruik van tydelike werkers aansienlik verander.
What to know before tying the knot
The big day is looming. There are a hundred and one arrangements to be taken care of, honeymoon travel plans, living arrangements, not even to mention the always controversial table plan at the wedding reception! But what am I forgetting? Why do I have that nagging feeling that I’m missing something?
Getting married? Consider the accrual system
The wedding is round the corner, the dress is finally done, the suit decided on and the flower arrangements settled. Now for the last item on my list – make an appointment with a lawyer and find out about this ‘ANC’ and accrual system everyone keeps telling us about?
Is cohabitation as good as marriage?
Pieter and Marie have been living together for many years. “Why ruin a good thing with marriage? We are as good as married in any case.” But are they? How do the rights of a couple living together differ from those of a couple legally married and how can persons living together protect themselves for the future?
Landbou Sektor SEB Kodes en grondhervorming
Boere moet kennis neem van die konsep Landbou Kodes (“Agri-Kodes”) vir Breedgebaseerde Swart Ekonomiese Bemagtiging (“SEB”) wat onlangs publiseer is. Hierdie kodes is huidiglik nog in konsep fase, maar mag in die nabye toekoms in werking tree. Die Agri-Kodes is van toepassing op alle boere en ook entiteite wat primêr betrokke is in die produksie, storing en verspreiding van landbou produkte.
Van der Merwe du Toit Inc. Promotion of Access to Information Act Manual
This manual has been prepared by Van der Merwe du Toit Inc. in terms of section 51 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000.
Can I lease or sell my house to a foreigner?
Can a foreigner lease or purchase immovable property in South Africa? And, if this is possible, what are the requirements for such a transaction to be valid? Also, can I lease or sell my property to any foreigner? The answers to these questions are pertinent to landlords and sellers garnering interest of foreign tenants and purchasers.
Hoe voorkom ek bedrog by die werk?
Suid-Afrika het een van die hoogste werkplek bedrogsyfers in die wêreld. Volgens onlangse statistieke het meer as 80 persent van Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye bedrog binne hul maatskappy aangemeld. Bedrog by die werk kan ‘n besigheid tot op sy knieë dwing deur finansiële verlies en slegte publisiteit.
Can social media get you fired?
Social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Blogger, LinkedIn and many others have become increasingly popular not only for social purposes, but also as tools to assist in job hunting and business networking. Unfortunately, not everyone is aware that, as useful as these social media sites may be, there also lurks hidden dangers for the online ‘socialite’.
The low down on the new Property Sector BEE Code
The new Property Sector Code for Broad-Based BEE (“the Code”) was gazetted and is effective as of 1 June 2012. The Code applies broadly to enterprises engaged in the property sector in property ownership or the provisioning of property services in both residential and commercial markets.
Curse of the careless testator: Is your will valid?
The importance of a will cannot be overstated. Not only does it provide expression to a deceased person’s last wishes regarding the division of his/her assets but it can provide financial security for loved ones for years to come. It can thus rightly be said that a will is probably the most important document a person will ever execute.
Hoe om jouself te beskerm as jy geld leen
Die Nasionale Kredietwet is ingestel en magtig die Nasionale Kredietreguleerder om alle krediettransaksies te reguleer. Alhoewel nie alle lenings as krediettransaksies kwalifiseer nie, reguleer die Nasionale Kredietwet baie lenings wat wel as krediettransaksies kwalifiseer. In sulke gevalle verskaf die Kredietwet heelwat regte aan die verbruiker en plaas wedersyds heelwat verpligtinge op die verskaffer van die krediet.
A practical approach to your rights when arrested
Most individuals tend to believe that they will never be faced with the prospect of arrest as they are law abiding citizens. Whilst this may be the case, it is sensible to always be well-informed of your rights in the event of an arrest and what you may or may not do so that you can enforce your rights in the event of an arrest.
The pro’s and con’s of sectional title ownership
Sectional title living has grown in popularity over the last decade for reasons which include heightened security and a more communal way of living. Sectional titles tend to be more affordable which makes it easier for young people to own their own property. However buying into a sectional scheme has its advantages and disadvantages.
Can polygraph testing and background checks be used?
The current economic climate, unemployment and concerns regarding job security have contributed to the increased use of falsified CV’s in job applications as well as criminal activities by employees. As a countermeasure, employers are making use of background checks and polygraph tests to combat the fraudulent and criminal activities of applicants and employees alike.
Dog owner beware! Dog bites can be expensive
Everybody has heard of someone who has been bitten by a dog. This is no accusation directed at dogs as owner irresponsibility is often the main cause of the attack. Correctly, one must then look at the liability of the owner to determine whether the actions of the dog are attributable to the owner or not.
Options v Pre-emptive Rights in Sale Transactions
Owners, agents and property professionals are often confronted with the legal terms ‘option’ to purchase and ‘pre-emptive right’ or a ‘right of first refusal’. So what is the difference between an option to buy property and a right of first refusal, and under which circumstances should each term be utilised in practice?
The unintended effect of AARTO on the employment relationship
While it may not have been the intention, the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (‘AARTO’) may have a significant effect on the kind of employment relationship where the employee is required to spend a substantial period driving as a condition of his/her employment.
Are you entitled to a portion of your spouse’s pension fund?
The Divorce Act states, that when determining the patrimonial benefits to which the parties to a divorce action are entitled, the pension interest of a party shall be deemed to form part of his/her assets. The normal result of a divorce between parties married in community of property is a division of their joint estate, which consists of all the assets and liabilities of the estate. This does not apply to marriages entered into out of community of property and without the application of the accrual system where the parties have no right to any portion of the other’s pension benefit.
Divorce Mediation: Is it a Solution?
Mediation, in general, is a voluntary process in which parties to a dispute utilize the services of an independent third party or ‘mediator’ to facilitate the discussions between the parties with a view to settling their disputes amicably. Where minor children are involved, our courts may in future even enforce mediation as a precursor to court action. Importantly…
Can I make use of email marketing?
Email marketing remains one of the cheapest and most effective methods of mass marketing and communication with your client database. Yet each person has a right to privacy and this right has frequently been violated in the past by callous marketers that send advertising and promotional emails to consumers without permission.
Mag ek van epos bemarking gebruik maak?
Epos bemarking bly een van die goedkoopste asook mees effektiewe maniere van massa bemarking en kommunikasie met jou kliënt databasis. Tog het elke persoon ook ‘n reg op privaatheid, en is hierdie reg in die verlede aangetas deur bemarkers wat sonder toestemming eposse oor promosies en advertering aan verbuikers gestuur het. Hierdie vorm van ongewenste direkte bemarking is nou aan bande gelê deur die nuwe Verbruikersbeskermingswet (“die Wet”) wat duidelike reëls in verband met digitale bemarking daar te stel.
Kredietverskaffer: Het jy genoeg inligting oor die skuldenaar om die skuld in te vorder?
Aanwysers toon dat die mikro-leen bedryf die afgelope paar jaar aansienlik gegroei het. Aan die anderkant toon aanwysers ook dat die aantal verbruikers wat slegte kredietrekords het en die aantal verbruikers wat hulself onder skuldberading plaas ook aansienlik gegroei het.
Credit Provider: Do you have sufficient debtor information to recover outstanding debt?
Indicators show that the micro-lending industry has been growing quite substantially over the past few years. On the flip side, indicators also show that the number of consumers with impaired credit records is also growing sharply, as also the number of consumers placing themselves under debt counselling.
The house that was sold “voetstoots”
In most agreements of sale of immovable property, such as a house, there appears the well-known “voetstoots” clause. The term “voetstoots” simply means “as it stands” which implies that the buyer purchases the property, together with its defects and cannot hold the seller liable therefore.
Wat is `n redelike kansellasiefooi by die kansellasie van `n huurooreenkoms?
Die nuwe Verbruikersbeskermingswet (“VBW”) het grootskaalse veranderinge teweeggebring in besigheidstransaksies in Suid-Afrika. Huurooreenkomste word ook geraak deur die bepalings van die VBW in die sin dat die huurder, indien `n natuurlike persoon, nou geregtig is om `n huurooreenkoms op enige stadium te kanselleer deur slegs twintig besigheidsdae skriftelike kennis van die beëindiging van die huurooreenkoms aan die verhuurder te gee.
What is a reasonable cancellation fee when cancelling a lease agreement?
The new Consumer Protection Act (“CPA”) brought about extensive changes to business transactions in South Africa. Lease agreements have also been affected by the provisions of the CPA in that a tenant, who is a natural person, is now entitled to cancel a lease agreement at any stage thereof by simply giving the landlord twenty business days written notice of cancellation. As a result, a landlord may no longer be guaranteed of a long term fixed lease income.
Alleenmandaat: Moet ek of moet ek nie?
Menigte voornemende verkopers word gekonfronteer met ‘n uitnodiging van eiendomsagente om aan hulle ‘n alleenmandaat vir die verkoop van hul eiendom toe te staan. 9 uit 10 kere is die onmiddellike reaksie om die aanbod van die hand te wys as gevolg van die opvatting dat ‘n alleenmandaat bloot ‘n slim manier deur ‘n eiendomsagent is om eksklusiewe regte tot jou eiendom te bekom wat moontlik tot gevolg sal hê dat jou eiendom nie effektief aan die mark blootgestel word nie en die kanse om jou eiendom te verkoop, verminder.
Sole Mandate: Should I or Shouldn’t I?
Many prospective sellers are confronted with an invitation by estate agents to grant them a sole mandate for the sale of their property. 9 out of 10 times the immediate reaction is to decline the offer due to a perception that a sole mandate is only a clever way for the estate agent to obtain exclusive rights to your property which in turn will result in your property not being effectively introduced to the market and decreasing your chances of a successful sale.