In the President’s address on 09 April 2020 regarding the extension of the lockdown, a disturbing note was South Africa’s shortage of medical protective equipment for healthcare workers to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. Thus, making it high risk for our “army” who are on the forefront of this pandemic, fighting against an invisible enemy.

On 26 March 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a nationwide lockdown to curb the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. While this was a wise and welcomed decision to protect the health and lives of our citizens but it also puts our economy and the livelihood of our citizens under strain. The Corona Virus is a global pandemic and as such it affects the ability of parties to perform in terms of their contracts.

The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. This has been a discovery in many trial matters run throughout South Africa, whereby it seems some matters heard before the court in civil proceedings could have easily been resolved at an earlier stage and should never have reached trial stage.

Your property has been sold and you eager to sign the Transfer documents, it is 2020 the year of plenty and all of a sudden it dawns on you that you cannot remember where you have left your Title Deeds. Through diligent search they cannot be located, what do you do now?

Who gets what? is the question that we get asked most when sitting down with clients to negotiate and finalise divorce settlement agreements. Whilst an uncontested divorce where the parties are able to agree on the proprietary consequences (division of assets) gives room to cater to what best suits each couple in their circumstances, the law determines the basic rights and entitlement of each party as regards assets and liabilities in the case of divorce should no settlement be reached.

Whether you are a parent considering donating your property to your child, or an elderly person wanting to donate your property to your spouse or to a trust to avoid estate duty tax, it is important to be aware that donations attract donations tax.