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Many South Africans believe that once they have a signed, witnessed will in place, their estate planning is done. But it is not. A will is a legal document that directs how your assets in your personal estate will be distributed after your death. But a significant portion of most
Most conduct rules are practical and uncontroversial. Rules about noise after a certain hour, the storage of items on balconies, or waste disposal procedures are routine. But not all conduct rules stay within reasonable boundaries. Some schemes have attempted to enforce rules or make decisions that restrict residents and third
First-time sellers often focus only on the asking price, take a few photographs, list the property, and wait for the first offer. Good marketing matters in property sales, but it’s rarely where the issues show up. What causes problems is discovering the real risks only after a buyer is already
Deciding to end a marriage is rarely a sudden choice. For most people, it is the result of months, sometimes years, of deliberation, emotional struggle, and trying to find a way forward. Most people only seek legal counsel when emotions have boiled over, communication has completely collapsed, or impulsive, life-altering
Most commercial disputes do not arise because parties act in bad faith. They arise because the contract they signed was poorly drafted. Ambiguous payment terms, vague termination provisions, and misunderstood penalty clauses routinely turn straightforward business relationships into costly litigation. In South Africa, contract law is grounded in the principles
Cohabitation Doesn’t Mean You Share Legal Rights Many couples move in together, split the rent, raise children, and quietly assume that the law sees them as something close to being married. The reality is that South African law does not recognise a general common-law marriage, and cohabiting partners do not
Transfer duty is the tax you pay when buying property in South Africa, governed by Section 2 of the Transfer Duty Act 40 of 1949 (TDA). It applies to immovable property and certain real rights, like long-term leases. As the buyer (transferee), you’re responsible for paying it within six months
When you walk into a modern development, the smell of fresh paint and polished finishes welcomes you into a space that feels ready to be lived in. But before the move-in day, there are tax and legal steps that need to be completed to finalise the deal. What makes it
Navigating the tug-of-war over rental security The moment a tenant hands over a security deposit for a lease, the silent countdown begins. For the tenant, that money represents a future moving truck or a down payment on their next chapter. For the landlord, it is a vital safety net against
For many South Africans living in estates or sectional title schemes (community schemes), fines have become part of everyday life. A penalty for speeding, a charge for parking, a debit on your levy statement for conduct you may not even have known was an issue. Most people pay these fines
Buying property off plan remains a popular entry point into the South African property market in 2026, driven by the exemption from transfer duty and the potential for capital appreciation during the build phase. However, as recent market shifts have shown, the risk of developer insolvency is an ever-present variable
South African landlords often make one critical mistake: treating every occupier who refuses to leave a property the same. The law clearly distinguishes between a tenant and an unlawful occupier, and confusing the two can derail the entire eviction process. The starting point is simple: does the person have lawful