Advice &amp; News

Trust investments and the Legal Practice Act

The Legal Practice Act, which has replaced the Attorneys Act, has made some changes regarding monies paid into attorney trust accounts and the investment of this money on a client’s instructions.

June 2, 2021

Rates refunds in the City of Cape Town

One of the documents that must be lodged in the Deeds Office for registration of transfer is the Rates Clearance Certificate (RCC). By law, at the time of registration of the property into the new owner’s name, all municipal charges relating to the property must be paid. And the RCC serves as confirmation that these monies have been paid.

June 2, 2021

A brief look at the conditions for township establishment

If a property owner would like to establish a township, the below procedure can give guidance when it comes to dealing with Town Councils. It will always be necessary to consult with a Town Planner who can specialises in dealing with this process:

June 2, 2021

21 facts you should know about the POPI Act

On 1 July 2021, the Protection Of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPI Act) comes into full force and effect. While the Act was signed into law on 19 November 2013, the majority of its sections were only implemented on 1 July 2020, with a one-year grace period. Now, with the remaining sections coming into effect on 30 June 2021, the Act becomes enforceable by the Regulator.

April 28, 2021

Court ruling: Can you sell a property that’s not in your name?

The recent judgement in the matter of Tomlinson and Another v Tomlinson N.O and Others (11764/2015) [2021] ZAKZDHC 8 (19 March 2021) in the Kwazulu-Natal High Court, Durban has drawn attention to whether someone is able to sell a property if he or she is not the registered owner.

April 28, 2021

Destruction of a sectional title scheme

There are several reasons why a landowner or developer may decide to build a new development in the place of an existing sectional title scheme. For example, the existing scheme may be dated and no longer suited to the area. Or the demand for residential units may be very high but the old development is undesirable.

April 28, 2021

Court ruling: Consumer Protection Act in rental agreements

In the recently decided case of Magic Vending (Pty) Ltd vs N Tambwe and two other occupants of a rental house in Wynberg, the Western Cape Division of the High Court was asked to rule on a) whether the Consumer Protection Act applied to the case in question and b) whether the enforcement of the forfeiture clause contained in clause 14 of the lease agreement was contrary to public policy.

March 25, 2021

The FIC Act: How it’s tackling money laundering in South Africa

The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) defines money laundering as “the process used by criminals to hide, conceal or disguise the nature, source, location, disposition or movement of the proceeds of unlawful activities or any interest which anyone has in such proceeds.”

March 25, 2021

Property Transactions and Married Foreign Nationals

In a recent article, we looked at the question of whether foreign nationals are permitted to own property in South Africa. A related question is what happens when a foreign national, who has entered into a marriage outside of South Africa, wishes to buy or sell property. Let’s take a look.

March 25, 2021

Foreign property ownership in South Africa

Can foreign nationals own property in South Africa? The short answer is yes. But before we explore this topic in any detail, let’s first define what we mean by foreign national – someone who is a non-resident, meaning that they are neither ordinarily resident nor meet the requirements of the physical presence test.

February 24, 2021

Non-resident sellers: Make sure you comply with SARS requirements

Non-resident property sellers should be aware of the requirements of section 35A of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962. The section stipulates that an amount equal to 5% (individuals), 10% (companies) or 15% (trusts) of the proceeds of a sale of immovable property must be withheld and paid over to SARS within 14 days after “the date on which the amount was so withheld” – this is typically the date of registration of transfer. An exception is if the parties agree that the purchase price be paid before registration, in which case the 14 days will be calculated from such payment date.

February 24, 2021

Power of Attorney: Can it lapse?

A power of attorney is a useful tool that can be used in many situations. For example, an elderly parent who, due to their age, finds it difficult to attend to their affairs may decide to grant power of attorney to their adult child.This legal document allows an individual (the principal), who has full contractual capacity to manage their affairs, to appoint someone (the agent) to perform certain acts on their behalf. Many people don’t realise that a power of attorney can automatically lapse. As an agent can only do what a principal can do legally, a power of attorney automatically lapses w

February 24, 2021

Court's View on Alienation of Private Water Rights in Rainy Season

Water use in South Africa is mainly regulated in terms of the National Water Act 36 of 1998 (Water Act). The Water Act clearly states that water is a scarce and unevenly distributed resource and that Government has a responsibility to manage water use and distribution in a sustainable way to the benefit of all users. Water is a natural resource that belongs to all people, and to achieve sustainability and equality, and to protect our water resources, Government must manage the use and distribution thereof.

January 31, 2021

Cheques are a thing of the past

In a statement issued late last year, the South African Reserve Bank informed the public that, “the issuing and the acceptance/collection of cheques will cease, effective from 31 December 2020.” At the time, most banks had already begun phasing out this form of payment, with clients making use of cheaper, more convenient electronic payment methods.

January 29, 2021