“All that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity.” (William Shakespeare, in Hamlet) Master’s Office records suggest that less than a third of us leave behind a will when…
Carnegie LawAugust 26, 2025
“Double Jeopardy” for Tax Evasion – Penalties plus Prosecution
“Administrative penalties and criminal proceedings do not serve the same purpose. The is aimed at strengthening internal controls of the…
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“You aren’t buying a house, you’re buying a lifestyle.” (Anon) As more and more residential properties are subdivided and developed, an increasing number of homes are effectively cut off from…
Carnegie LawAugust 26, 2025
“Dance like no one is watching, but text, post, and email like it will be read in court one day.” (Anon) When can the target of rude comments and insults…
Carnegie LawAugust 26, 2025
“There’s no trust, no faith, no honesty in men.” (William Shakespeare, in Romeo and Juliet) A recent Labour Court decision is a stark reminder to employees that an employment relationship…
Carnegie LawAugust 26, 2025
“Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides.” (William Shakespeare, in King Lear) A recent High Court judgment confirms, yet again, that if a property seller knows about a hidden defect…
Carnegie LawJuly 28, 2025
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” (C.S. Lewis) Divorce is traumatic, to the extent that it’s widely…
Carnegie LawJuly 28, 2025
“Diplomats operate through deadlock, which is the way by which two sides can test each other’s determination.” (Henry Kissinger) Running a business with a partner can work brilliantly – until…
Carnegie LawJuly 28, 2025
“You must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which you can reasonably foresee would be likely to injure your neighbour.” (Lord Atkin in the groundbreaking 1932 House of…
Carnegie LawJuly 28, 2025
“I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” (Douglas Adams in The Salmon of Doubt) Contracts often contain suspensive conditions, a common example being…
Carnegie LawJune 25, 2025
“In Africa there is a concept known as ‘ubuntu’ – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others.” (Nelson Mandela) International Nelson Mandela Day is…
Carnegie LawJune 25, 2025
“When cognitive capacities are the focus, the 70s are the new 50s.” (IMF) Fake news articles suggesting that South Africa was implementing a new standard retirement age policy, supposedly from…
Carnegie LawJune 25, 2025
“I charge you by the law.” (William Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice) Victims of crime are entitled to see the perpetrators brought to justice. Feeling that the justice system…
Carnegie LawJune 25, 2025
“Trust me, I’m a lawyer.” (Popular T-shirt slogan) South African property buyers and sellers will have been cheered by news that we are now officially the most affordable country in…
Carnegie LawMay 27, 2025
“The legal principles, as I understand them, do not confer on me the powers of Father Christmas. I cannot rescue the un-rescuable.” (Quoted in the judgment below) We all want…
Carnegie LawMay 27, 2025
“Grandparents, like heroes, are as necessary to a child’s growth as vitamins.” (Quoted in the judgment below) One of the greatest tragedies of family fall-outs will always be the effect…
Carnegie LawMay 27, 2025
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of bandages and adhesive tape.” (Groucho Marx) It’s a perennial topic of dispute in our courts. A couple lives together, sharing the…
Carnegie LawMay 27, 2025
“Look before you leap.” (Wise old proverb) Imagine sealing the deal on your dream property, only to wake up at 3 a.m. beset by sudden doubts. Thoughts like “Can we…
Carnegie LawApril 23, 2025
“My word is my bond.” (Once the motto of 16th-century merchants, adopted by ’90s hip-hop artists, and now tossed around by duelling politicians) Many people are unaware that there are…
Carnegie LawApril 23, 2025
It’s vital for both employers and employees to understand the practical and legal differences between permanent and fixed term employment arrangements. What is a fixed term contract? A fixed term…
Carnegie LawApril 23, 2025
“A body corporate’s lot is not an easy one.” (With apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan) One of a body corporate’s core functions is to collect current and outstanding levies. When…
Carnegie LawApril 23, 2025