In November 2024, the Supreme Court of Appeal (court) set a precedent for Valuation Appeal Boards (VABs) in South Africa, reaffirming the importance of providing clear and reasoned decisions. The court highlighted that VABs, which are entrusted to adjudicate over
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Constitutional Court grants ratepayers retrospective relief from unlawful rates
On 24 March 2025, the Constitutional Court upheld the appeal of Ekapa Minerals (Pty) Ltd and set aside the order of the High Court. The appeal related to whether the Constitutional Court could interfere with the High Court’s exercise of
HPCSA Preliminary Committee decisions can be appealed to High Court
In May 2025, the High Court confirmed its jurisdiction to hear an appeal against a decision of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) Preliminary Committee of Inquiry which was made before Regulation 4A of the Health Professions Act
High Court clarifies that upstream gas production is not subject to Gas Act licensing
In May 2025 the High Court declared that the National Energy Regulator has no authority to require licences under the Gas Act of 2001 for upstream gas production activities authorised under a valid production right issued in terms of the
Public-sector employment relationships are generally not subject to PAJA
On 12 March 2025, a High Court judgment ruled that the decision of a municipality to terminate the acting appointment of its Director of Community Services amounted to administrative action that is subject to review in terms of the Promotion
Should dust be an excluded pollutant in insurance policies?
In the UK there is legislation regarding exposure to risks to health and safety by third parties from the operations of a business. Legislation, like the South African Occupational Health and Safety Act, protects employees against exposure to substances hazardous
Delaying a decision to avoid an insurance policy not a waiver (Canada)
In a short May 2025 judgment the Ontario Appeal Court dismissed an appeal where the insured claimed that the underwriters had delayed the exercise of its rights to void the 2015 policy and that renewing the policy amounted to a
Another Instance of Misleading the Court with Artificial Intelligence (UK)
Another cautionary tale on the perils of uncritical reliance on generative artificial intelligence (AI) arrived in the English High Court in April 2025. The court found a barrister and a firm of solicitors responsible for including fictitious case citations in
Uncertain prospects of a principal debt being paid is no defence for a surety
This blog was co-authored by Adrienne Hendricks, Trainee Associate and Adriaan Lourens, Candidate Attorney.
In April 2025 the High Court dealt with a bank’s claim for payment of R15 million, plus interest and costs, brought against the surety of a
Defamation in the Digital Age: Freedom of Speech has Limits
In April 2025, the High Court granted a final order restraining the two former associates of the applicant, part of a major financial group, from publishing or distributing defamatory statements about the company and its employees on social media or