The Developer’s Handshake: When Buying a New Property Changes Your Tax Bill
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 more complex is that, in […]
Choosing the Right Company Structure in 2026
When you launch or restructure a business in South Africa, most SMEs and investors choose between three options: a private company (Pty Ltd), a trust, or a hybrid structure, which combines the two. This decision determines how your business is taxed, how risk is managed, and how easily you can raise funding or scale. With […]
Considering Divorce? Here’s Why Early Legal Advice Matters
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 decisions have already been made. […]
Can a Voice Note, Email, or Draft Ever Count as a Will?
South Africa’s Wills Act 7 of 1953 remains unchanged in 2026. Voice recordings, emails, and unsigned drafts do not automatically qualify as valid wills, but courts retain a narrow discretion to use them in exceptional circumstances. The rise of digital communication has prompted a recurring question in estate practice: if someone records their final wishes […]
The Name You’ve Built, the Rules That Protect It: Navigating CIPC Name Disputes
For most business owners, your company name is far more than a formality. It is how your market recognises you. It reflects your work, your relationships, and the trust you have built with your clients. The question is: what happens when another business starts trading under a name that looks or sounds like yours? This […]
Transfer Duty in South Africa: Key Facts for Property Buyers
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 of signing the offer to […]
Running a Business from Home? Municipal Approval Isn’t Enough
Getting permission from the municipality to run a coffee shop on a residential property might seem like the green light to go ahead. The plans are signed off, the doors open, and business starts to pick up. Then the complaints begin. Neighbours object to the noise and traffic, and a year later, the business is […]
Small Claims Court vs Magistrate’s Court: Which One’s Right for Your Case?
When a dispute turns serious enough to head to court, one of your first decisions can make all the difference: where to take your case. In South Africa, most civil disputes end up in either the Small Claims Court (SCC) or the Magistrate’s Court. Both are designed to make justice accessible, but they operate very […]
Legal Distinction Between Private and Public Roads
A private road is defined as one that is not open to the public and is intended for the use of specific individuals, such as the owners or occupiers of the properties it serves. The term “private” inherently excludes public access, as established in Berdur Properties (Pty) Ltd v 76 Commercial Road (Pty) Ltd, where […]
Who Is Liable When an AI-driven Vehicle Causes Harm?
As autonomous vehicles (AVs) evolve from concept to real-world use, South Africa faces pressing legal questions: if an AI-driven vehicle causes harm, who bears liability? Under current South African law, liability for road accidents is largely governed by the Road Accident Fund Act 56 of 1996 (the RAF Act). The RAF is a statutory insurance […]