Municipal Liability for Unsafe Public Infrastructure: High Court Rules on Injuries from an Uncovered Manhole
The responsibility of municipalities to ensure that public spaces are reasonably safe has once again come under scrutiny. In a recent decision in Thamsanqa Wilson Madubane v eThekwini Municipality, the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg held the municipality accountable for injuries suffered by a pedestrian who fell into an exposed manhole during loadshedding. The ruling […]
Supreme Court of Appeal Clarifies the Consumer Protection Act’s Reach in Private Residential Lease Agreements
A recent judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal in Els v Venter and Another has provided important clarity on whether a residential lease of a private family home falls within the protective scope of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA). The case required the Court to determine two key issues: Background to […]
CIPC Tightens Deregistration Measures for Non-Compliant Companies
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission CIPC has intensified its automated deregistration programme, targeting companies and close corporations that fail to submit annual returns or beneficial ownership information. Entities that do not meet these statutory requirements face swift removal from the register, an outcome that carries serious legal and financial consequences. Why Compliance Matters To […]
POPIA Compliance and Employee Photos: What Companies Must Know During Year-End Celebrations
As companies prepare to wrap up the year, staff functions, corporate lunches and end-of-year parties take centre stage. These gatherings usually come with plenty of photos, team snapshots, behind-the-scenes moments, and festive group shots. Many employers later upload these images to their LinkedIn pages, internal newsletters, recruitment brochures or digital marketing campaigns. However, even at […]
Understanding Year-End Bonuses in South Africa: What Employers and Employees Should Know
As South African businesses prepare to close the year, many employees begin anticipating year-end bonuses. However, it is important to understand that bonuses are not automatically guaranteed under South African labour law. Whether a bonus is payable depends entirely on the wording of the employment contract, workplace policies, or the specific bonus framework applied within […]
Beneficial Ownership Transparency and the Fight Against Illicit Financial Flows
Criminal networks and corrupt actors have long attempted to disguise the origins of unlawful funds by funnelling them into the legitimate financial sector. As traditional laundering techniques became easier for regulators to uncover, these actors shifted toward more intricate schemes. One of the most common strategies has been the exploitation of corporate structures, companies, trusts, […]
Appraisal rights of minority shareholders in a holding company when a subsidiary disposes of its assets
The Western Cape High Court recently revisited the scope of appraisal rights under the Companies Act 71 of 2008 in Cilliers v LA Concorde Holdings Limited and Others (WCC, case no 23029/2016, 14 June 2018, per Papier J). The case concerned a minority shareholder in a holding company seeking to rely on s 164 appraisal […]
Breaking Barriers: The Young Women Redefining Correspondent Law in Bloemfontein
We’re not your typical law firm, and we’re proud of it. At Mayet & Associates, we’re a powerhouse team of young women breaking barriers in the legal profession. Based in Bloemfontein, the judicial capital of South Africa, we’ve built a reputation as one of the leading Supreme Court of Appeal correspondent firms driven by precision, […]
When Can a Party Avoid Arbitration? Insights from the AIG v Molefe Decision
Introduction Arbitration is often praised for being faster and more confidential than court proceedings, but what happens when a dispute involves both arbitrable and non-arbitrable claims? A recent judgment by the High Court in AIG South Africa Limited v Brian Molefe (Gauteng Division, Pretoria, 1 August 2025) sheds light on this question and illustrates when […]
Settlement Clauses in Business Disputes: What the Van Rooyen Judgment Teaches Us
In an era where commercial disputes are increasingly resolved through negotiated settlements rather than lengthy litigation, the precision of contractual drafting has become more important than ever. Businesses are under growing pressure to ensure that their agreements are enforceable, practical, and free from ambiguity. Recent South African case law continues to shape this landscape, and […]