| |
 |
Developing a property? |
How to save on tax. Read more... |
| |
|
Hlophe champions courts use of indigenous languages |
ALL South African citizens had a legitimate expectation to have their court cases conducted in their own language and this was backed up by the constitution, Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe said. Read more |
| |
|
New era for Reserve Bank |
Can South Africans expect a new approach to the monetary policy of the Reserve Bank? Will there be a significant shift from the inflation-targeting monetary framework that has been followed by the bank in the past decade? Read more... |
| |
|
Equality courts here to stay |
Contrary to media reports, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development says there is no intention to shut down Equality Courts. Read more... |
| |
|
Judges aim for judicial independence |
Appeal judges should show more courtesy to lower court judges whose rulings they criticised, a judicial conference has resolved. Read more...
|
| |
|
Zuma names Sandile Ngcobo as Chief Justice |
President Jacob Zuma nominated Constitutional Court Judge Sandile Ngcobo as the country 's new Chief Justice. Read more...
|
| |
|
Zuma calls for speeding up of transformation of the judiciary |
President Jacob Zuma has called on the country 's top judges to help speed up the process of the transformation of the judiciary. Read more...
|
| |
|
Zuma questions rights of criminals |
President Jacob Zuma has called for the reassessment of the approach through which the perpetrators of crime are granted bail in South Africa. Read more...
|
| |
|
Indian court revokes 150-year-old gay sex laws |
An Indian court ruling on 2 July 2009 decriminalising gay sex between consenting adults followed a nearly decade-long battle by health workers to be rid of parts of a 150- year-old law from the colonial era. Read more...
|
| |
|
Judges to tackle court delays |
Judges have resolved to tackle court delays and lengthy case backlogs, Chief Justice Pius Langa said on Wednesday at the end of a four-day conference in Pretoria.Read more.
|
| |
|
Property slump´s days numbered |
There are definite signs the property market slump is coming to an end with data pointing to early signs of a market recovery, ooba - formerly MortgageSA - said. Read more...
|
| |
|
Swindler Madoff gets 150 years in jail |
Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison on 29 June 2009 for perpetrating the biggest and most brazen investment fraud in Wall Street history. Read more... |
| |
|
Finally, a Regal conviction |
Nearly eight years after Regal Treasury Bank collapsed, CEO Jeff Levenstein was finally found guilty on all eight charges against him by acting judge Naren Pandya in the South Gauteng high court last week. Read more... |
| |
|
Zim: New constitution hearings |
Zimbabwe began hearings on Wednesday on a new constitution to comply with a power-sharing deal and usher in elections.
President Robert Mugabe formed a unity government in February with arch-foe Morgan Tsvangirai, now prime minister, after disputed elections last year and agreed to write a new constitution within 18 months. Read more... |
| |
|
SA needs more women on the bench Judge O Regan |
South Africa needs to break old-boy barriers and appoint more women on the bench, one of the country 's respected legal minds and Constitutional Court Judge, Kate ORegan said on Tuesday. Read more... |
| |
|
Special levies |
During an economic downturn that has many of us tightening our belts the last thing we welcome is an unexpected expense. As an owner in a sectional title scheme however, unexpected expenses are a real possibility. Read more... |
| |
|
National Attorneys Week 7-11 September 2009 |
Building on the success of National Wills Week last year, the six constituent members of the Law Society of South Africa (the Cape Law Society, the Law Society of the Free State, the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society, the Law Society of the Northern Provinces, the Black Lawyers Association and the National Association of Democratic Lawyers) are cooperating to present an Attorneys Week on a national basis. Read more... |
| |
|
House price index shows steep drop |
The Standard Bank median house price index declined 4, 9% year on year last month - a steeper rate of contraction compared with a year ago - as a result of a sinking economy. Read more...
|
| |
|
SARS makes enhancements to filing process |
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is to introduce a range of improvements to the filing process to improve its service to taxpayers. Read more... |
| |
|
Economists predict repo rate cut |
Economists predict the South African Reserve Bank (SARB)'s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is likely to announce a 50 basis point cut in the repo rate, when it meets this week. Read more... |
| |
|
Disqualifications |
The right to vote is one of the normal consequences of membership of an association. An owner of a unit in a sectional title scheme is automatically a member of the body corporate and will usually have the right to vote at all of its general meetings either personally, by proxy or through another legally recognized representative. Read more...
|
| |
|
Property on the mend |
Property experts seem convinced that South Africa 's residential market has bottomed and in some areas a marginal increase in demand is being experienced. Read more...
|
| |
|
Priority Crimes unit officially launched |
The new Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI) has been officially launched. The new unit replaces the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), which was known as the Scorpions. Read more...
|
| |
|
New accident fund ‘to end lawyers’ greed’ |
Road Accident Fund CEO Jacob Modise has warned that interest groups will resist changes to the existing system of compensation for road accident victims. Read more... |
| |
|
Trusts to get huge tax break on properties |
Now you can also transfer your property out of a trust and get a 22% tax saving. Read more...
|
| |
|
Minister scuppers successful farming schemes |
Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti has pulled the plug on farm share equity schemes — probably the most commercially successful land-reform model in SA to date. Read more...
|
| |
|
University Tests: Blueprint for a benchmark |
From 2010, first-year university students at most institutions and in most faculties will write the National Benchmarking Test (NBT) to measure competence in the key cognitive skills. Read more...
|
| |
|
Property: Ready to rock? |
Is the residential property sector going through the worst recession since the 1939 - 1941 slump, or are the difficulties exaggerated?
|
| |
|
Property: ready to rock? |
Is the residential property sector going through the worst recession since the 1939-1941 slump — or are the difficulties exaggerated? |
| |
|
Hofmeyr warns on crime spiral |
Asset forfeiture Unit head Willie Hofmeyr said "tougher measures" were needed to combat organised and economic crime, or SA "might end up in a state where crime becomes out of control" |
| |
|
Publication of the Deeds Registries Amendment Bill, 2009, for general comment. |
|
| |
|
Afrikaans policy: Judgment held |
Judgment in the Ermelo Hoërskool language policy case was reserved in the Constitutional Court. Read more... |
| |
|
Track ID ´s, passports online |
South Africans will soon be able to apply for their passports and identity documents online, Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma announced. Read more...
|
| |
|
Home Affairs rolls out electronic system |
The Department of Home Affairs says its one step closer to implementing its new electronic system for identity documents after the process proved to be a success for passports. Read more...
|
| |
|
New bills would lower tax penalty |
The government has introduced new proposals to reduce the penalties payable by provisional taxpayers where their actual income differs from their estimated income. Read more...
|
| |
|
Crushing corruption |
The bill to stop public servants from benefiting from business deals due to their government connections was welcomed by the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu). Read more...
|
| |
|
Branch courts turned into full service courts |
Fifteen branch courts across the country are now enjoying the status of being full service courts with improved access to the justice system following the extension of their services. Read more...
|
| |
|
Cut won´t help property much |
The decision by the Reserve Bank 's Monetary Policy Committee to cut the repo rate by 50 basis points to 7% will provide the property market with a little relief, but it is likely to remain stagnant. Read more...
|
| |
|
Tax reforms alter business travel allowances |
The taxation of travel allowances is set to undergo further changes that will limit the potential of using this benefit as a tax structuring tool. Read more...
|
| |
|
Government to change current land redistribution model |
President Jacob Zuma has announced that changes will be made to the "willing-buyer, willing-seller" model of land redistribution in South Africa. Read more... |
| |
|
Registrars Circular 7 of 2009 |
The Municipal Property Rates Act no 6 of 2004. |
| |
|
Huge tax break on properties |
What you should know to transfer your property out of a company and get a 22% tax saving. Read more... |
| |
|
Eskom halts supply to big developments |
Property developers said last week they were losing income due to reduced project sizes and incurring extra costs since Eskom decided to review the issuing of new quotations for property developments requiring power of 100kVA and above. Read more... |
| |
|
SADC sets 5 Feb deadline for Zim constitutional amendment |
Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders have given Zimbabwe political leaders until 5 February 2009 to pass Constitutional Amendment 19. Read more...
|
| |
|
IEC says it will be ready to run election from April |
In the clearest indication yet that this year’s election will be in late April or early May, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has said it will be ready to run the election from the middle of April. Read more... |
| |
|
Sub Saharan Africa´s economy grew by 5.4 percent in 2008 |
Sub Saharan Africa's economy expanded 5.4 percent in 2008, the first time in more than 45 years that growth exceeded 5 percent for five years in succession, and despite substantial deterioration in the external environment during the year. Read more... |
| |
|
MDC warns deal will break down if violence does not stop |
Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is expected to refuse to support a proposed constitutional amendment to facilitate implementation of a political agreement for an inclusive government when it meets at the weekend. Read more... |
| |
|
Insolvencies set to soar this year |
Insolvencies are expected to continue soaring this year as a result of the global credit crunch, says a legal expert. Read more... |
| |
|
Recovering levies after deal |
A legal expert explores the issue of recovering special levies when a sectional title unit is being sold. Read more... |
| |
|
Rental Housing Tribunal demystified |
The Rental Housing Tribunal (RHT) is an independent body appointed by the Provincial Minister of Housing to promote stability in the rental housing sector and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants of residential dwellings with the least amount of inconvenience and cost to the disputants. Read more... |
| |
|
SARS updates tax forms |
Tax forms for the 2009 tax season have been updated and improved, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) said in a statement. Read more...
|
| |
|
Health Department to oppose doctors |
The health department would oppose the bid by dispensing doctors to have the courts scrap the laws controlling the fees they may charge for medicines they provide to their patients, according to health department spokesman Fidel Hadebe. Read more... |
| |
|
House price growth a 12 year low |
Growth in SA house prices has slowed to its lowest rate in over a decade, and 2009's growth rate won't be any better. Read more... |
| |
|
US House passes economic bill |
In a swift victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives approved a historically huge $819bn economic stimulus bill on 28 January 2009 with spending increases and tax cuts at the heart of the young administration's plan to revive a badly ailing economy. Read more... |
| |
|
Fuel price cuts screech to a halt |
The retail price of all grades of petrol will increase by 61c a litre on Wednesday February 4, the department of minerals and energy announced on 30 January 2009. Read more... |
| |
|
New tax season launched |
Just as people have started breathing a sigh of relief for getting their tax returns in by the February 5 2009 deadline, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced dates for the next tax season. Read more... |
| |
|
State aims to rule local government roost |
A controversial constitutional amendment to empower the central government to intervene in the affairs of local government without having to change the law each time was approved by the Cabinet at its last meeting before the general election. Read more... |
| |
|
Finance Ministers to discuss Zimbabwe´s economic bailout |
Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Tendai Biti and his South African counterpart, Trevor Manuel will continue talks on a safe exit out of the current economic crisis that has left the country in the world's highest inflation, last estimated at over 231 million. Read more...
|
| |
|
Dividends tax will encourage foreign investors |
The introduction of a dividends tax is likely to make South Africa a more attractive foreign investment destination. Read more...
|
| |
|
Growth again in 2010 |
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said on 18 March 2009 that 2010 "could be the year of a moderate recovery" for global economic growth if confidence returned to markets and the economy. Read more... |
| |
|
Transfer duty, companies and CC´s |
Some comments have recently been made regarding the assessment of transfer duty with regards to the transfer of shares in a company and the transfer of a membership interest in a close corporation. Read more...
|
| |
|
Zim: 100 days no change |
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai addresses Zimbabwe's parliament on 19 May 2009 as the unity government nears 100 days in power, with analysts saying little has changed in the daily lives of citizens. Read more... |
| |
|
Zuma: Consitutional Court next? |
A decision to uphold the National Prosecuting Authority's appeal against a High Court ruling halting the prosecution of Jacob Zuma could see the ANC leader heading to the Constitutional Court. Read more. |
| |
|
IEC publishes election timetable in Government Gazette |
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has published the election timetable for the upcoming national and provincial elections, in the Government Gazette. Read more...
|
