News and Commentary
Interdict to block Springboks from Rugby World Cup abandoned
The application to interdict the Springboks from the Rugby world Cup was abandoned on Thursday last week. The application, bought by the Agency for a New Agenda (ANA) against the South Africa Rugby...
Casual day: No more of the dark winter months. It’s time to celebrate the first official month of Spring
On 4 September 2015, it is the annual Casual Day fundraiser, which funds research for children with disabilities. Don’t forget to purchase your Casual Day Sticker, get into your casual gear on...
Labour Court confirms a tough test for condonation
To review certain conduct in the Labour Court, the Court's rules require that applications be brought within very strict timelines. In this case, a review was launched some eight months late. ...
As anticipated, Ashley Madison data leak results in a Class Action Lawsuit.
The company behind the AshleyMadison.com website - and latest victim of an online hack - faces a $760 million (approximately R10.640bil) class action brought by users of the website 'outed' in the...
New European Union inheritance laws should prompt reviews of wills
A new succession law came into effect throughout the European Union last week. In terms of this rule, the law of the country where the deceased was a habitual resident will govern succession to...
Genetic-link requirement in surrogacy declared unconstitutional
This month, the Pretoria High Court struck down the genetic-link requirement in surrogacy, declaring it unconstitutional. Under the Children's Act of 2005, surrogacy is only allowed when at least...
Recent Indonesian addition to the TerraLex Network, Lee Tai & Partners
We are pleased to welcome Lee Tai & Partners to the Terralex Global Network of Lawyers of Excellence. This firm "has been recognized by Corporate INTL in 2013, as the Full Service Law Firm of...
FWB Consultant, Monty Hacker, does SA proud at World Masters Athletics Championship
Our very own Monty Hacker, represented South Africa in the World Masters Athletics Championship in Lyon, France earlier this month and did exceptionally well. The WMAC took place between the 4th and...
Is conciliation at the CCMA a pre-requisite to institute action in the Labour Court?
The Labour Court (Pillay v Automa Multi Styrene (Pty) Ltd ) recently confirmed that one cannot approach that Court without having first attempted conciliation. Conciliation is the first regulated...
Progress Report from the Davis Tax Committee and Finance Minister’s comments on South Africa’s Tax system
Last week, the Davis Tax committee provided an interim report to Parliament on their inquiry into the role of the South African tax system. Judge Denis Davis referred to a study by the World Bank...
Indian Government seeks damages from Swiss food giant after banning Maggi noodles for containing unsafe levels of lead.
Earlier this month the Indian Government took Nestle to the country's highest consumer court, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC). The State is suing the Swiss food...
Market division: the penalties and remedies
The Competition Act prohibits agreements that divide markets by allocating customers, suppliers, territories, or specific types of goods or services. For 30 years, two locksmith companies had agreed...
Attorneys’ Admission Examinations: 18-19 August
This week many candidate attorneys have been hard at work preparing for the Law Society's Attorneys' Admission Examinations. After months of weekly Practical Legal Training lectures hosted by the...
City of Cape Town to provide free Wifi to commuters
The City of Cape Town has issued a tender for a service provider to install and operate Wi-Fi zones on MyCiti busses. The service will be free to all passengers and is expected to include a minimum...
TB Davie Memorial Academic Freedom Lecture at the University of Cape Town
UCT hosts the Memorial Academic Freedom Lecture, this Thursday, 13 August 2015, at Lunch time, in the Smuts Dining Hall, Upper Campus. Topic: Free speech in the age of identity politics Presented...
Women’s day
“Women's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic,...
Nkunzi Milkway and Clover merger prohibited by Competition Commission
In December 2014, the Competition Commission prohibited Clover S.A. (Pty) Ltd from merging with Nkunzi Milkway (Pty) Ltd. Clover is a branded consumer goods company that sells a range of dairy and...
Validity Of Automatic Dismissal Clauses
SATAWU (on behalf of DUBE) took Fidelity Supercare Cleaning Services Group (Pty) Ltd, to Court recently. Several persons, employed by Fidelity to provide cleaning services to Wits University,...
FWB Delegates at Terralex Global Meeting in Munich
Peter Watts, Bob Groeneveld and Louis Rood represented Fairbridges Wertheim Becker at the TerraLex Global Meeting in Munich, Germany in June2015,joining almost 300 delegates and guests from over 60...
FWB receive PMR.africa Diamond Arrow Award
Louis Rood, represented Fairbridges Wertheim Becker to receive the PMR.africa Diamond Arrow Award 2015 awarded to our firm, as first overall winner among law firms in the City of Cape Town and Cape...
Further updates from the Davis Tax Committee and its interim report – Estate Duty
While the initial proposal and expectation in regards to estate duty was that it be removed from our current tax system, the Davis Tax Committee has recommended in its recent interim report on...
What is the small claims court?
Unfortunately, civil disputes are a fact of daily life; accounts are left unpaid; reckless drivers smash into parked cars and neighbours are forced to cut down thorn bushes that have encroached upon...
Disbarring representatives of Financial Service Providers
Representatives of Financial Service Providers (FSPs) render financial services to clients for or on behalf of a FSP. This may involve selling financial products such as insurance policies and unit...
Court rules on the Constitutionality of emolument attachment orders
Judgment was handed down by Judge Desai, last Wednesday, in the Western Cape High Court, in favour of a group of consumers, joined and represented by the University of Stellenbosch’s Legal Aid...